The lot was purchased and the Charlottetown Baptist Church prepared to move its chapel to a new site at 42-44 Great George Street. The lot was on an empty block on the east side of Great George, mid-way between Dorchester and King Streets. It was almost directly across from the current site of the Roman Catholic Bishop’s Palace, built a few years later, in 1875. In this location they would be within a few hundred yards of three other churches. Across the street to the north was the large wooden 1840 St. Dunstan’s Cathedral. Around the corner, across Richmond Street, was the relatively new St. Paul's Anglican Church, built in 1836. One block east on Prince Street was the Methodist/Wesleyan Meeting House. A second Methodist Church was located on Upper Prince Street opposite the Prince Street School, a couple of blocks north of the original Baptist Chapel location. They certainly selected a location well in the heart of what must have been, on Sabbath morning, a crowd of horses, wagons and bustling parishioners. Looking at the hand drawn 1863 ”Lake” map of Charlottetown, one can see the Baptist Church building located on Great George Street, in the centre of the block between Dorchester and King Streets. It is also noted on the survey map of Charlottetown by CR. Allen, that was featured in the 1880 Meacham Atlas of Prince Edward Island.

They selected the winter of 1853 to move the building, because it would skid so much easier on snow covered streets, using large teams of horses. Although the wooden building was quite large, the move was not particularly long; four blocks down Prince Street, right on Richmond, one block to Great

George, and left to the vacant lot ’ " . _ ”‘4‘“ two bIOCkS 5°”th' At ““5 pornt 'n Church ofScotIand-HeadofPrince Street time, there would be no concerns (site of I’BuptistChapeI)

about power poles or overhead PUN‘W‘NVM’PE'

wiring. For the two weeks the Church was being prepared and moved, services and meetings were held at an old schoolhouse next door to the home property of vendor William Hobs. Full details of the financial transaction are lost in time but there is indication that the £350 price of the new lot was almost totally covered by the sale of vacated lot #81 on Euston Street, which was purchased by a Mr. Richard Write (Wright). It is interesting to note that by 1860 the Presbyterian Free Church of Scotland had erected a fine looking church structure on the old site, at the head of Prince Street. Although there is no documented proof, there is a noted indication that the Baptist chapel, in the Great George Street location, had a new tower and porch added. The note simply reads: ”...In 1853, Deacon Thomas DesBrisay led a committee to raise funds for the new tower and porch on the Chapel.”

After preaching on Sunday morning, April 16, the conduct of member William Godkin was discussed. It was stated, ”..his walk of late has offended the brethren”, and a committee was established to confront him. A week later it is noted that he was unwilling to admit intoxication, and was, ”suspended from the brethren until he will admit his actions before the Church.”

24