The Church of England

THE Church of England had existed in Nova Scotia ever since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, by which Acadia was finally ceded to the British Crown. Port Royal was captured by the English under General Nicholson in October, 1710, and on the 10th of that month, according to Nicholson's Journal, was solemnized a day of Thanksgiving, for the success of Her Majesty's Arms. After Divine service, which was performed in the Chapel by the Rev. John Harrison, Chaplain to Commodore Martin, and now left a Chaplain to the Garrison, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Hesker, Chaplain to Col. Reading's Marines. The Rev. Mr. Harrison was therefore the first Church of England Clergyman to be stationed in Nova Scotia. One of his first official acts was the marriage of Magdelaine Maissonat, one of the original inhabitants, to William Winniette, a French Protestant, one of the captors of Port Royal, and an officer of the Fort. Mr. Harrison was still Chaplain in 1720, and in that year Governor Philipps chose him as one of the first Councillors of the Province. Mr. Harrison was still living at Annapolis in November, 1732, but in the meantime other Chaplains had been appointed. The Rev. Robt. Cuthbert was Chaplain in 1724, but he fell into disgrace for keeping company with Mrs. Margaret Douglass, wife of Alex. Douglas, contrary to his own promises and advice of the Governor.

After Mr. Cuthbert, the Rev. Richard Watts was Chaplain to the Garrison. After the settlement of Halifax in 1749, services were conducted by two clergymen who were sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Rev. William Tutty, and the Rev. William An well, the latter of whom shortly died. It is unnecessary to follow the succession of Ministers of the Church in Nova Scotia which had become strong before the separation of New Brunswick from Nova Scotia or the coming of the Loyalists.

The first missionary work done in New Brunswick by any Church of England clergyman was that of the Rev. Thomas Wood, who, in 1769, made a Missionary tour through it, and conducted services at St. John Harbor, Gagetown, Burton and Maugerville. In 1783, the time of the arrival of the Loyalists, the Rev. John Beardsley was the first missionary at St. John and the Rev. John Savre was missionary at Maugerville. Mr. Beardsley went to Maugerville as successor to Mr. Sayre who died at Burton, on the 5th of August, 1784.

Mr. Beardsley was succeeded in St. John by the Rev. Dr. Cook who arrived there on the 2nd of September, 1785. Prior to that time a building 36x28 feet had been purchased for a church, but owing to the lack of money and other causes, it was in an unfinished state. This building was used as a church until 1791, when old Trinity Church was opened. Dr. Cook in addition to his regular pastoral work, visited St. Andrews and other parts •of Charlotte county. In 1786, when Fredericton became the seat of Government, he removed to that place. To use his own words, he left " Happy in the reflection that his remitted endeavours to establish the church at St. John, had been so far effectual, that he left his successor in possession of a decent, well furnished church, with a very respectable and well behaved congregation." During his period of labor in St. John, St. Andrews and elsewhere, he baptized 153 persons. Dr. Cooke was succeeded in St. John by the Rev. George Bisset. The latter died on the 3rd of March, 1788, and was succeeded by the Rev. Marther Byles, D.D.

Dr. Cooke arrived at Fredericton in August, 1786, and preached the first Sunday after his arrival to a congregation of sixty or seventy persons in the King's provision store, on Queen street, the only place in which a congregation could be accommodated. In October, 1786, the first Church Warden and Vestry were appointed, but there is no record of their names. The following is the earliest list of church wardens and vestrymen obtainable. They were elected at a meeting of the Parishioners of the Parish of Fredericton, held on the first of April, 1793.

Church Wardens: Jonathan Odell, George Sproule.

Vestrymen: Jacob Ellegood, Harris Wm. Hailes, Garret Clopper, Isaac Hedden, William Fowler, Stephen Jarvis, James Bell, Lewis Dunham, Robert Smith.

Rector: Rev. Dr. Cooke.

Fredericton was at this time very small, and the people, for the most part, very poor. The congregation seldom exceeded 30 persons. On Christmas Day, 1786, Mr. Cooke had only 14 Communicants. Before the conclusion of the year he had baptized 23 white, 3 black infants and one adult; married 5 couples, and buried one person. In 1787, the Imperial Parliament made a grant of £2,000 for the purpose of building churches in New Brunswick, a share of which was allotted to Fredericton. Mr. Cooke accordingly set about the erection of a church, £500 being given towards that object by the Government, and over £150 by Governor Carleton. Little was contributed by the people as they were "very indigent." Owing to this, and other causes, the church was not completed until 1790. In addition to his money donation, Governor Carleton furnished the church in a handsome manner.

Dr. Cooke, in 1790, was appointed Ecclesiastical Commissary to the Bishop of Nova Scotia. He was unfortunately drowned on the night of Saturday, May 23rd, 1795, while crossing the St. John River from Fredericton to his residence on the opposite side, owing to the upsetting of his canoe. Dr. Cooke was then in the 72nd year of his age. His son, Mr. Michael Cooke, was drowned at the same time. Dr. Cooke was succeeded, as Rector of Fredericton, by the Rev. George Pigeon, and he continued in that position until 1814, when he succeeded the Rev. Dr. Byles at St. John.

The first Rector of St. Andrews was the Rev. Samuel Andrews, who arrived there in 1786. Two years later a church 52x40 feet was built with the Government allowance of £500 and opened on St. Andrews Day. The first meeting of the Vestry for the Parish of St. Andrews was held on the 2nd August, 1786. At this meeting there were present: — The Rev. Samuel Andrews, Missionary; Thomas Wyer, Joseph Garnett, Church Wardens; Mr. John Hall, Mr. Maurice Salts, Mr. John Dunn, Mr. James Pendlebury, and Mr. John Bently, Vestrymen; Joseph Garnett, Clerk.

Mr. Andrews continued Rector of St. Andrews until the 26th September, 1818, when he died, at the advanced age of 82. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jerome Alley, D. D., who was Rector of St. Andrews for nearly 40 years and died there August 5th, 1861, aged 77 years.

The first Rector of Kingston, was the Rev. James Scovil, where he took up his residence in June, 1788. At this time he had 220 families in his mission. A church, called Trinity Church, was built in 1789, the Government contributing £500 towards the object. Mr. Scovil did not confine his labors to Kingston alone, but visited, at different times, the adjacent parishes of Westfield and Springfield. He died at Kingston, December 19th, 1808, in the 76th year of his age and 50th of his ministry. His son, the Rev. Elias Scovil, succeeded him as rector, and died on the 10th February, 1841, in the 70th year of his age and 40th of his ministry.

The first Rector of Gagetown was the Rev. Richard Clarke. In May, 1786, he landed at St. John and when he reached his post, he found that the people were very poor and standing in need of every assistance. In 1786, he brought his family to New Brunswick and entered on the work of his ministry. During the year ending midsummer, 1788, he baptized 70 infants and 2 adults, buried 5 persons and married 3 couples. A church and school were built at Gagetown in 1790. In 1795 Mr. Clarke's mission embraced four parishes, Gagetown, Waterborough, Hampstead and Wick-ham. He was Rector of Gagetown for twenty-five years. During his residence there, the Rectory caught fire and was burnt. Miss Clarke, the rector's elder daughter, Miss Mary Hubbard, and a grandson of the rector, perished in the flames. This grievous calamity had such an effect on Mr. Clarke that he resigned the rectorship and went to St. Stephen, of which place he was rector for 13 years and died in 1824, in the 87th year of his age and the 57th of his ministry. He was succeeded at Gagetown by his son, the Rev. Samuel R. Clarke who died there in August, 1841, aged 69 years.

In 1790 there were six clergymen holding Rectories in the Province, viz.: at St. Andrews Maugerville, St. John, Gagetown, Fredericton and Kingston. In 1794, there were ten clergymen, Sussexvale, Woodstock, Belleisle and Nashwaak having been added to the list. The first Rector of Sussex was the Rev. Oliver Arnold, who went therein 1793. Mr. Arnold, besides being Rector, had charge of the Indian school there. He lived to the age of seventy-nine years, and died in 1834. He was succeeded by his son, the Rev. Horatio Nelson Arnold, who had previously been his assistant.

The first Rector of Woodstock was the Rev. Frederick Dibblee, who was ordained in the year 1791. Mr. Dibblee was appointed first Missionary to all the settlers living on the River St. John above St. Mary's and Kingsclear. The great extent of his mission, embracing the four parishes of Prince William, Queensbury, Woodstock and Northampton, made his work arduous and difficult The people were few in number and scattered over an area of 150 miles. Mr. Dibblee continued Rector of Woodstock until May 16th, 1826. He lived to the age of seventy-three years.

In 1815, there were only nine Church of England Clergymen in the Province the Missions at Belleisle and the Nashwaak being discontinued and one at St. Stephen being added. In 1820, there were 14 clergymen, one of whom was an assistant at St. John, and Hampton, Grand Lake, Sackville, and Douglas being added. In 1829 the number had arisen to 26, and in 1845 to 32. In this year New Brunswick became a separate Diocese, the Right Rev. John Medley, D.D., having been appointed Bishop. Owing to his labors there was a great increase in the number of clergymen and the Missions of the Church. In 1880, the number of clergymen was 69. One of the best results of Bishop Medley's labor was the great improvement in the architecture of the church buildings. At the present time the number of clergymen in the Province is upwards of 70.

At the last Census there were 41,767 adherents, of the Church of England in New Brunswick.