Charlottetown men training for the ministry, and seven of them were nominated by First Baptist. The contagious energy of Christian Education Minister Chet MacPhail was evident to all who associated with him. He was a modern breath of fresh air in the church, who did every task in a quick, efficient manner. Young people hung on his every word and his vibrant enthusiasm infected everyone. It was Chet MacPhail, more than anyone else, who led the reference to First Baptist Church as simply FBC.

It had been 180 years since the first resident Baptist preacher, John Scott, arrived on Prince Edward Island, settled in the North River area and began to preach in Gaelic to anyone who would listen. It was 108 years since Rev. C.C. Burgess became the first pastor of the North River Baptist Church, a congregation that eventually moved to Clyde River. Then, in 1988, First Baptist of Charlottetown helped a new congregation become re-established in North River,with Rev. Elwood Bannister as their first pastor. They met regularly in the lecture theater of the East Wiltshire Jr. High School and called themselves the Cornerstone Baptist Church. First Baptist purchased new hymn books and gave the old ones to Cornerstone. The new satellite congregation was renting space but the ”mother church” gave them use of First Baptist facilities for meetings and services, as much as possible. Another example of FBC assistance, this one not related to Cornerstone, was when new choir gowns arrived and the old ones were given to the Brackley United Church.

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Deacon’s Board 1986 Back: Basil Kerwin, Ross Affleck, Keith Robinson, Douglas Hender, Gordon Babineau, [owe/I Sweet, Front: Robert Wood, Don Worthen, Eric MocNei/I, Raynall MocNei/I, Ira lewis

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