resources to establish the Charlottetown Church in 1836, but financial support had recently waned. When a new Prince Edward Island Baptist Association was organized in March of 1854, the Charlottetown church broke away from the Nova Scotia Association. Itjoined the new Island group, where there appeared to be much more support and communication. Prior to the break, the Nova Scotia Association was sending preachers to PEI to fill the weekly needs when regular pastors were unavailable. Among those visiting was a Nova Scotia Association minister, Reverend C. J. Burnett. He was a stirring speaker who impressed Charlottetown Baptist's officers. When they offered him the senior position he agreed, providing he could maintain his connection with the Nova Scotian Eastern Baptist Association. This created a bit of discomfort within the Charlottetown Baptist Church, but terms were agreed to. C. J. Burnett began his duties as the pastor in Charlottetown, in October.

Eighteen fifty-five was a time of great growth and excitement in Charlottetown. With a population ofjust over 6,000, it became incorporated as a city. Reflecting on the move to Great George Street, we might wonder if one of the motivations was to be more in the heart of the ”shadier" part of town. It was deemed sinful to carouse, but lower Great George Street was the centre of local lodging facilities and taverns, and it was the main artery to the city from a very active waterfront. North, and next door to the church, was ”London House” (later re-named the ”Revere Hotel”) on the corner of Sydney and Great George, and one block further north was the ”Wellington Hotel”. Both were popular spots with BaptistChurch on Great George Street seafaring visitors and politicians, TalesoiAbegwefl'WeW when the Legislature was in session. It is noted that there were noisy parties almost every night on lower Great George, offering plenty of opportunity for soul—seeking Baptists to be active, and perhaps offering additional temptation for an occasional member? In the line drawing of the original church building there is a ”Bethel” flag flying over it. In Benjamin Bremner’s Tales of Abegweit, he writes that the flag was flown after the church was moved to Great George Street, ”...in order to identifya place of worship convenient to seafaring men.”

The mid 18505 continued to be years of turmoil, with regards to the church's relationship with their Association. Pastor Burnett was very popular with his members but some of hisviews on Association support did not sit well with other Island churches. This was especially true of some the smaller Baptist churches of Scottish Baptist influence, east of Charlottetown. In April of 1856, the Charlottetown church dissolved their relationship with the PEI Baptist Association and was welcomed back into the Nova Scotia Association fold. Without the Charlottetown

(Bjaptist Church as an anchor, the Prince Edward Island Baptist Association gradually issolved.

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