^rmitg (S&reS» Trinity Church, St. John. 1880. HI$TOF(Y 0i> rittit^ Cfnurcfi, SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK. 1791-1891 COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE REff. CSNON BRIGSTOCKE, D.D., RECTOR, AND ISSUED BY THE RECTOR, CHURCH WARDENS, AND VESTRY. SAINT JOHN, N. B. J. & A. McMillan, 98 Prince William Street. 1892. Entered according to the Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year 1892, by THE RECTOR, CHURCH WARDENS, AND VESTRY OF TRINITY CHURCH, St. John, N. B., At the Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. PEEFACE. The one luindredth anniversary of the o[)eninf^ of Trinity Church, which occurred last Christmas Day, presents aii appropriate occasion, of which the Corporation of the Church gladly avail themselves, to issue a complete History of Trinity Church, in commemoration of that memorable event. From time to time, there has been, through the columns of the daily newspapers, by lectures, and other means, much information given of the work of the Loyalists who built the Church, and of the Rectors who ministered in it; but no attempt has hitherto been made to furnish a com- plete record of all that was done by that noble band of men and women, in connection with their Church and Parish. We feel, indeed, that we should be recreant to our duty, did we not put the history of their doings in some permanent fo m. and hand down to posterity, an example of Christian heroism, and Christian patriotism, worthy of close imitation. The history we now^ furnish, with its numerous illustrations, will, we venture to think, be of interest, not only to the con- gregation of Trinity Church, but to the Cliurch and city at large. We desire to return our grateful thanks to Mr. Joseph Lawrence for much information, and kind assistance ; to the Rev. A. W. Eaton, New York, for kindly furnishing for perusal MS. copies of early re})orts of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, as well as to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. Eaton's recent book, " The Church in Nova Scotia ;" and to "An Historical Sketch of the First Fifty Years of the Church of England, in the Province of New Brunswick," by Mr. G. Herbert Lee. The work of compiling, and editing this History has been done by the Rector, as a labour of love, who trusts that it may prove of deep interest, and tend to the glory of God. St. John, New Brunswick, April, 1892. LIST OF ILLUSTKATIOKS. Trinity Church, 1«80, ... Fro^itls^Z '^OldTnuhyr .^ _ _ ^ Trinity Chu ich ( West Front) , ] 85H, ... 25 Trinity Church, Interior View (East), 29 Royal Arms, 3^ The Right Rev. Charles Inglis, I). D., 47 The Right Rev. John Inglis, D. D., ... ... ... 51 The Most Rev. John Medley, D. D., ... 59 The Right Rev. H. T. Kingdon, D. D., 71 The Rev. Mather Byles, D. D., gj The Rev. George Pidgeon, ... ^7 The Rev. Robert Willis, D. D., _, The Rev. B. G. Gray, D. D., ... ... ... .. The Rev. J. W. D. Gray, D. D., ... ... The Rev. James Hill, M. A., ... ... 105 The Rev. Frederick H. J. Brigstocke, D. D., ... ... 109 Trinity Church, Interior View (East), 1880, 125 Trinity Church School House, 1880, ... I37 Bustof Queen Victoria, ... Ig5 ^1 95 99 * S'rimtQ Churcf^, 1791-1877. •'UtMuember the iiaus of olli, consider tl)c wears of luami aenerationa." dkut. xxxu. ?. >h- ** tDe I)at)e Ijearb tuttl) our ears, (D C5oii, our iatl)ers l)ax)e toib us ttil)at work (ill)ou li'ilist in tl)cir lians, aulJ in tl)e times of ol^." ps.xuv.i # isl0Fi nf friiiilg |||0r4. Oil the 18th day of May, 1783, at the close of the Eevolutionary War, there landed on the shores of Xew Brunswick, at the mouth of the River St. John, about three thousand men, women, and children, who, to re- tain their allegiance to the British Crown, sacrificed all tlieir possessions, and came and sought to make homes for themselves on the nearest British territorv. The fleet in which they came, numbered in all twenty ves- sels, which bore the following names : Camel, Capt. Tinker; Unhn, C^^pt. Wilson ; Aarora, Capt. Jackson • Hope, Capt. Peacock ; Otter, Capt. Burns ; Spem-er, Capt. _: Emmett, Capt. Reed; Thames, Capt.' ' >S>r///r/, Capt. Cadish ; BrulgnDater, Capt. ; Facoarite, Capt. Ellis; Ann, Capt. Clark* Commeree, Capt. Strong; Tr//AV////, Capt. ' Lord TownsemI, Capt. Hogg; Sorerekpu Capt. Stuart- Salley, Capt. Bell; Qiras, Capt. ; Brltcdn, Capt. ; Ruuj Georefe, Capt. . The spot on which the landing was made, was the present Market Square, named at first " The Public Landino- " and the devoted band have ever since been known W their descendants, by the honoured name of" Loyalists." The River Saint John was known in historv many years previously. On the 24th dav of June, 1604 the French explorer, Champlain, sailed into the harbour, and so must be regarded as the discoverer of the noble river, which, in honour of the day, he called Saint John— a name it has borne ever since. The City, Saint John, was founded bv the Loyalists It was at the first called Parr Town, in honour of (13) 14 History of Trinity Church. Governor Parr, of Nova Scotia and changed to St. John, when it received its charter. On the arrival of the Lovalists, it must be ever remembered, that their Hves were full of hardship and toil to secure for themselves shelter, and other necessaries of life. Everywhere they were surrounded with rugged rocks, and w^ooded clitts, wliich only aiforded them the rudest materials for home and fuel. Being, hon^ever, possessed of much force of character, and energy of will, they set them- selves at once to clear the woods, and build houses ; so that by the close of the year 1783, a population of 5,000 had settled in Parr Town, and Carleton. The laying out of the ground for a city, was immediately proceeded with, and in doing so, the first care of the Loyalists was to secure a site for a church. The por- tion of ground set apart for a church and burial ground, was a lot on the south side of Union street, wdiicli has been known for over half a century as " The Old Burying Ground," the intention being, to build a church on its south-west corner. The frame of it was cut off the ground on which the Court House now stands. It was, however, never completed. A fire — the scourge of the Western world — sAvept over that part of the city, and caused the abandonment of that ground as a site for the church. Het). jjcilju Bcar^slcn. In connection with the work of preparing to build a church, it is appropriate to refer to the ministry of the Rev. John Beardsley — the first clergyman who officiated to the Loyalists. Mr. Beardsley was born at Stratford, Connecticut, and w^as ordained in England in 1762. He soon returned to America, where he laboured for five years at Norwich. In 1766 he moved History of Tiuxity Church. 15 to Poiighkeepsie, Xew York, iin'\ in 1777, was ap- pointed Chaplain to the regiment nnder the command of Colonel Beverley Rob hison, and with it came to New Brunswick. He remained some time in St. John, ministering to the wants of the peo[)le, and took so activ^e an interest in the building of the church, that it is reported " he was frequently seen with his coat oft, and broad-axe in hand, working away at the frame." He removed to Maugerville in 1784, where he carried on his ministrv for seventeen years as a missionarv of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts. Afterwards he removed to Kingston, where he died and was buried, April 2.3rd, 1810. €)on. anb Um. Jcnatlian (Diicll. After the departure of Dr. Beardsley in 1784, and while the congregation was for some time without the services of a settled clergyman, the Rev. Jonathan Odell frequently read prayers, and preached. He was a native of ]S^ewark, Xew Jersey, and began his career as a surgeon in the British army. Leaving the army while in th* AYest Indies, he went to England, and was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of London, in Decem- ber, 1766, and Priest in the following January. During the Revolutionary War he espoused the cause of the Loyalists, and became Chaplain of the regiment com- manded by Colonel Joshua L^pham, the grandfather of Charles W. Weldon, Esq., one of the Church Wardens. At the close of the war he took refuge in England, and received the appointment to a seat in the Legisla- tive Council of ^ew Brunswick. He was the first Secretary of New Brunswick, and Registrar, and Clerk of the Council. He held these positions for thirty years, and died at Fredericton, Nov. 24th, 1818. 16 History of Trinity Church. The next step which tlie Loyali.sts took towards procuring a place ot worship, w^as to purchase a frame building — the first frame building, it is said, that was erected — that stood on the east side of Germain street, on Lot 121, between Duke and Queen streets, now owned by Mr. J. McMillan. The buildinii: measured thirtv-six feet, bv twentv-eio^ht feet, and, beiiis^ in a very unfinished state, was very inconvenient and un- comfortable for the performance of Divine worship. N'evertheless, it provided a place where the blessed ordinances ot religion could be solemnized, and v/as no doubt a comfort and help to the devoted and exiled band. This building was never coiisecrated nor bore any name. It continued to be their place of worship until the opening of Trinity Church, when it w^as offered for sale at £200, without finding a purchaser. Subsequently it was used by the Methodists and Bap- tists, and afterwards for many years it was occupied as a dwelling house. . Hen. Samuel (looke, SI. D. We would here make mention of the Rev. Samuel Cooke, who, some time after the departure of Mr. Beardsley, came to St. John, and officiated to the con- gregation for about one year. Mr. Cooke was edu- cated at the University of Cambridge, England, and was sent out in 1749, by the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to Xew Jersey. Subse(piently he went to England on private business, and was, it appears, sent out again as a missionary of the S. P. G. to ^ova Scotia, where he landed at Hali- fax, after, he writes, a tedious voyage. He then took, so the report of the S. P. G. goes on to relate, a journey of 200 miles by land and water, and came to St. John, History of Trinity Church. 17 Xew Brunswick, which he reached Sept. ^nd, 1785. He found the congregation worshipping in the house above mentioned, which Dr. Cooke wrote, was very inconvenient and uncomfortable. To remedy this state of things, he, at once called a vestry meeting, and rep- resented so effectually the necessity of exerting them- selves, that a subscription was set on foot, and by his personal application to the principal inliabitants, the sum of £90 was collected in three days' time, with which thev were enabled to ceil the buildins:, and to erect a ffallerv in the front, and at each end, which contained as many persons as the building used to do below. " After all," Dr. Cooke goes on to say, " this is only a temporary affair, till some method can be adopted, or the people's circumstances shall enable them to build a proper church, which may be a credit, and an ornament to the place." In another letter. Dr. Cooke writes (S. P. G. Report), " The little church at St. John's is now made very commodious, the body of it is pewed, and it is furnished with a reading desk, a pulpit, and stoves. In this work, Dr. Cooke ascribed much credit to Mr. Isaac Lawton, who had the cause of religion, and the interest of the church much at heart. But he hopes that by the zeal of the inhabitants, with the assistance of the Government, a much larger, and more suitable church will soon be built. On I^ew Year's Day (1786), he administered the sacrament ot the Lord's Supper to 25 communicants. The w^eather being then, cold in the extreme, so that he could not expect the people, especialh' the women, to attend. Going warmly clothed himself, he stood it tolerably well. Under date July 29th, 1786, Dr. Cooke writes (S. P. G. Report) that he was about to remove to Fredericton in August. He was happy in the reflection that his 18 History of Trinity Church. unremitting labours to establisli the good, and peace of the church at 8t. John, had been so far effectual, that he left his successor in possession of a decent, well furnished, though small cliurch, with a very respectal)le and well behaved coii-'rcgadon, with whom, the part- ing, on the previous Sunday, had been attended with mutual regret. He had officiated in St. John nine months. Notwithstanding all that had been done to make their place of worship convenient, and commodious, the Loyalists very properly felt the need of a suitable church edifice. The first decided step to obtain that ol)ject, seems to have been taken in June, 1788, when two lots on Germain Street, — one the gift of General Coffin, and the other of John Cochran, Esq. ; and two lots on Studholm, now Charlotte Street, the gift of Thomas Whitloek, Esq., a merchant, and for many years a Vestryman, and Church "Warden, were granted to the vestry as a s' e for the church. From this time, it ap- pears that the work of building went on continuously. The corner stone was laid by the Right Reverend Chas. Inglis, D.D., Rishop of Xova Scotia, and first Bishop of the Colonial Church, on Aug. 20th, 1788. The builders of the church were Messrs. Bean and Dowling ; the former was afterwards a member of the vestry. The church was built of wood, and consisted of a chancel,* a nave, and two side aisles. It was then of peculiar form, its breadth being out of proportion to its length. But this feature, as events proved, was an evidence of economy, and wise forethought. The Loyalists would not recklessly run into debt. They built according to their means, and looking to the future, they made pro- * There is little doubt that it was the first church with a chancel in British North America. ■ .il'';^li:ii:::lll!:l:':!ii!:ii«ii:'!:!i "=^ History of Trinity CmRcn. 21 vir> sic oinncs I \X was consecrated by Bishop Chas. Inglis on Sun- day, August 19tli, 1 792, who, at the same time, ordained Rev. Frederick Dibblee, and Kev. ( )liver Arnold. There is little doubt, that it was the tirst ordination held in Xew Brunswick. The following formed the Church Corporation in 1701 : Rector ; Reverend Mather Byles, D. D. Church Wardens: Thomas Horsfield, Fitch Rogei-s. Vestrymen: The Hon. Gabriel G. Ludlow, William Hazen, Ward Chipman, Nathan Smith, Isaac Lawton, Samuel Hallet, Colin Campbell, Thomas Elmes, Thomas Bean, Thomas Whitlock. Munson Jarvis. Thus after some reverses, and much patient and persevering labour, the Loyalists succeeded in erecting a suitable and commodious church for the honour and glory of God, and left to their posterity, a precious and noble inheritance. To the Church thus erected, many gifts were be- stowed, and many additions w^ere made. Of the gifts, the first to be mentioned, is that of a bell, which was TTisTouv OF Trinity Ciirnrii. prcscTittMl l)y Ml'. AVilliaiii TlK)iii)>s()n, a ]iro]ninoiit nuTcliunt of till' citv. At a vestrv iiioc'tini; held Aut(ust i^Ttli, 17!>2, it was resolved: " That tlie unani- mous thanks of this corporation l)e made to Mr. William Thoni[>son, for his verv handsome present of a hell to Trinity Chureh." In'lSOi>, Mr. John lilaek wrote a letter to the Vestry, offering to (-ontrihute the sum of Two Hundred Pounds, towards the purchase of an organ for the church. The liheral offer was ac- cepted, and the organ was ordered from London, and brought out in the ship. Brothers, which was owned by the Hon. Wm. ragan, who remitted the freight, which amounted to one hundred pounds. Captain l>arr, who commanded the ship, also remitted his " primage''' on the freight, which amounted to live pounds. The next addition to the church was a Clock Tower, and Cu[)ola. The following resolution was passed by the Vestry, in August 16th, 1809 : " That a committee be appointed, to solicit subscriptions towards defraying the expenses of erecting a clock story and spire on the church, and of purchasing and erecting a clock, with dial plates, and also for receiving proposals for building the clock story and spire, agreeably to the model now in the A'estrv room." The committee then appointed, reported in January 15th, 1810, that the sub- scriptions amounted to £411, Os. Od. ; whereupon it was voted unanimously, that the same committee take the necessary steps to import a suitable clock. The w^ork of building the clock story, and spire was en- trusted to Mr. John ^"enning, who, when the work was nearly completed, fell from the staging to the ground, and was instantly killed. A slight fall of snow made the stage slippery. The clock which, with the charges of importation, cost £212, 19s. Od., was not erected till TTfSTORY (>K TiMMTY rirrRrii. 28 1812. The Coinmon Coiuu'il, in answer to a memorial from llio Vestry, made a ii^rant of ^50 towards the ex- }>enseH connected witli it, and sul)st'(pit'nt]y, assumed the eharjj^v of kecpini-' it in working order. In 1812, turthcr steps were taken for the enlaruje- ment, and ini[>rovement of tlie ehureli. ( )ii Marcli -JOth, in that year, a memorial from Henry Oilhert, and others, was handed in to the vestry, praying *' for an alteration in the church agreealdy to a plan exhihited, hy wliich a new chancel should he huilt out from the hodv of the church, and room j^ained, for the erection of sixteen ohlong, and eight s(juare pews." In reply to the memorial, the vestrv clerk was directed to adver- tise for tenders for the contemj)lated alterations to the church, and on the 6th of April, we find that tenders for the work were handed in from several contractors ; and a committee consisting of Messrs. Pagan, Scovil, Jarvis and Wheeler, was appointed to close a contract, and have the proposed alterations, and additions carried out without delav. So far the work of erecting, enlarging, and improv- ing the church, had gone on auspiciously. It was now hoAvever, in some degree, to he arrested, and the church placed in imminent danger of total destruction. On Tuesday, February 27th, 1849, a fire broke out in the Commercial Hotel, situated at the corner of King and Charlotte streets, and completely destroyed it. The sparks and fiaraes were carried over to Trinity Church, and set fire to the West end of the edifice. Most strenuous exertions were made, and many volunteers were at hand, to do all in their power to save the build- ing. In this, they succeeded, so far as the main body of the church was concerned, and only the cupola at the West end was destroyed. In connection w^ith this 24 History of Trinity Chirch. sad event, the following resolutions were passed by the Vestry on February 28th, 1849: "Ordered that the Church Wardens and Mr, Peters be a Committee to have the damaij-e done to Trinity church bv the late fire properly estimated, with a view to make due claim upon the Insurance Office." " Whei'eas, On the morning of February, the 27th instant, Trinity Church in this city, was placed in the most imminent danger of being destroyed by fire, but under the merciful direction of Divine Providence, was preserved through the intrepid and vigorous exertions of a number of disinterested individuals ; Therefore Resolved, That the grateful thanks of this Vestry be cordially tendered to all the persons, both civil and mili- tary, and especially to those gentlemen who, some of them, upon the Tower, in a most perilous situation, and others, at other parts of the building, hazarded their lives to preserve this venerable structure from the flames ; Resolved Unanimously, That the thanks of this Vestry are due to Messrs. George Mills, William Wriglit, and John Johnston, to whose perilous and unremitting exertions, may in a great measure be attributed the safety from destruction by fire, of the building of Trinity Church, on the morning of Tuesday last ; and that as an additional mark of the sense entertained by the Vestry of their services, a Bible be also presented to each of the above named parties." Without much delay, the Vestry took steps to re- pair the damages done by the fire. On April 16th, 1849, Messrs. Thurgar, Peters, and Lawrence, were ap- pointed a committee to report on a plan for repairing the tower of Trinity Church. On June 7tli, the com- mittee reported a plan prepared by Mr. JStead, which they were authorized to carry out. Other improvements on a larger scale on the West end of the church, as well as in the interior, were soon Trinity Church, west front, 1856. History of Trinity Church. 27 afterwards contemplated. On November 8tli, 1853, a committee consisting of the Rector, Church Wardens, and Messrs. Foster and l>otsford, was appointed to draw up a statement of the improvements needed, and probable expense to be incurred. That committee re- ported on December 1st, and stated that £1,500 would at least be required to carry out the improvements recommended. The report was approved bv the Vestry, and referred to a meetins: of the I*arishioners for their consideration. On January 5th, 1854, a meeting of the . Parishioners was held, when it was unanimouslv re- solved : " That certain alterations in the interior of the church, to- gether with the erection of a suitable tower, and entrance, or front to the building be forthwith carried out." A subscription list was at once opened, and a committee consisting of the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen, was appointed to solicit and collect subscriptions. On July l-Sth, 1854, the committee re- ported subscriptions to the amount of £1,444, 8s. 4d. ; whereupon, it was unanimously resolved : " That the Vestry be authorized to commence and com- plete the proposed repairs and alterations, so far as the funds in hand would w^arrant." The proposed improvements were as follows : 1. A new Tower on the western front of the church. 2. The enlarging the interior, by the removal of the par- tition between the body of the church and the porches, and making entrances to the galleries in the tower. 3. The repairing the foundations of the church. 4. Painting the church inside and outside. 5. Making the western entrance suitable and convenient. 6. Warming the church by means of furnaces. 7. Reducing the height of the pews. 8. To ascertain the cost of a chime of bells. 28 History of Trinity CHURcii. Plans and estimates for the several portions ot the work were procured, and the tender of Messrs. Fenety and Raymond, which included all the work, except the cut stone, and painting, amounting to £1,550, was ac- cepted. Considerable time was occupied in the execu- tion of the proposed improvements ; but they were all at length carried out, through the persevering energy and zeal of the committee, to whom thev were entrusted. A very handsome and imposing West Front was built on to the church, surmounted with tower and spire of goodly proportions, and crowned with a vane shewing the points of the compass, and as before, with the Christian svmbol of a fish, to show the direction of the wind. The clock was now placed in a more elevated position in the tower than it had been before, and a fourth dial was placed on the eastern side. The interior was much improved by reducing the height of the pews in the nave, and by being painted throughout. One further improvement nmst be placed on record. In 1860, Mr. John V. Thurgar, who many years was a most efficient Church Warden and Vestryman, presented to the church, stained glass for the three lights which formed the East window. On May 1st, in that year, the following resolution was passed in connection with that s^ift : " Whereas, Our long respected Warden, John V. Thurgar, Esq., has presented to this church, a stained glass Chancel Window ; and Whereas, This Vestry are desirous to express their gratitude and thanks to Mr. Thurgar for his handsome gift, and to have the same recorded on the records of this corporation : Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be given to Mr. Thurgar for the great improvement to the appearance of Trinity Church, by the stained glass windovr, with which he has ornamented the Chancel." Trinity Church, Interior View (East). 1791-1877 History of Trinity CiirRcn. 31 The li^oijal i\rms. Of all the onuiiuents in the eliuivh, tlieiv was one of peculiar interest, and of which we must, therefore, make special mention. ( )n the north wall of the church' over the pew ai)propriate(l to the use of Ilis Kxcellencj the Governor, there hung the Royal Arms. The his- tory of this emblem of loyalty to the British (^rown, is of very great interest, and for which we are indebted The Royal Arms. to " Koyal Memorials," * by the Rev. E. F. Slafter, Cor- responding Secretary of the *' ^^ew England Historic Genealogical Societv." The Royal Arms, which for manv years were dis- played in the Council Chamber, in the old State House * While taking our account of "The Royal Arms" from "Eoyal Memorials," we feel it only right to state, that Mr. Slafter acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. J. W. Lawrence, President of the Historical bociety of New Brunswick, for papers, and facts connected with their history. 32 History of Trinity Chirch. in Boston, still exist, and are carefully preserved in Trinity Church, St. John, Xew Brunswick. They came into the possession of Trinity Church somewhat more than a hundred years ago. The story of their exit from Bostou, and bv what means they came to lind a permanent home in St. Jolm, did not survive the revolutionarv iieriod. Plausible theories as to the origin of these Arms, resting ui)on inade(piate proof, have not been wanting, and some of them have, from time to time, found their way into print. Documents have of late come to light, which leave upon the rpies- tion no room for doubt. ( )n the evacuation of Boston, on the 17th day of March, 1776, Ward Chipman and Edward Winslow, graduates of Harvard College, accom[)anied the British army to Xew York. After the close of the war, they settled in Xew Brunswick, where tliey passed the remainder of their lives. In the winter of 1785, Edward Winslow was at Halifax, Xova Scotia, and Ward Chipman had taken up his abode in St. John, Xew^ Brunswick. In a letter of Mr. Winslow^ to Mr. Chipman, on the 16th of January, 1785, he says, " Give my old Custom House Seal to Mr. Leonard, and tell him I'll forward the famous carved Coat of Arms by the first conveyance from Halifax." A subsequent letter from Mr. AYinslow to Mr. Chipman, referring to the same subject, and wdiicli was taken from the original, we give below : Halifax, 25^/i March, 1785. My Dear Fellow : By the schooner Halifax, Packet, Capt. FiiUerton, I send a small assortment of Stationery, per Invoice, which I hope will reach you in good order. If this vessel arrives before Mr. Deblois, don't suspect me of inatten- lii^sTORY OF Trinity Cm ucm. 33 tion or breach of ])ronii.ew occupied by the Lieiitenant-(ilovernor of the Province. At wliat time these arms were set up in the Council Chamber in the old State House in Boston, cannot be accurately determined. Thev belong, as may be seen by the illustration, to the House of Hanover, and there- fore miglit have been made, as early as 1714, at the beginirng of the reign of George I. The Arms of the House of Hanover were similar from 1714 to 1801, when a chariii^e was made by the omission of the French feur (If lis, and a consequent re-arrangement of the msigina. Jjolt} Cominunion f\Me. The vessels for tlie Holy Communion, which are all of silver, were presented hy His Majesty George the Third to the church. They consist of two Patens, one Chalice, and two Flagons, on each one of which, is engraved the letters " G." " R." with the Royal Arms surmounted by a crown. Dr. Byles, in a letter to the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in the year 1790, acknowledges the receipt of Church Plate, with Prayer Books, and tracts for the use of the congregation. The church thus enlarged, renovated, ornamented, and now completed, formed a noble, and substantial edifice, and a worthy monument of loyal attachment to the Church of England. As the first churcli erected in the city, it became, to a large extent, an object of interest to almost every inhabitant, and few there were, History of Trinity Church. 85 who liad not, at some time or other, worshipped within its \valls. To the Loyalists who built it, and to their descendants, it was a spiritual home ot much endear- ment, and full of holy memories, and sacred associ- ations. But though so venerated, and endeared, it was not destined to continue. It had already barely escaped destruction by tire in 1840 ; but on June 20th, 1877, it perished in the flames of a general conflagration, which destroyed about two-thirds of the City. On that day — the memory of which will never pass aw^ay from those who witnessed it — a Are broke out in the north- west portion of the city, which though small in its beginning, was soon fanned, through a raging north- west wind, into a fierce torrent of flame, which devoured all before it, and became a very besom of destruction. As it rushed onward, it w^as soon seen that Trinitv Church could not escape destruction. Not only was it impossible at such a time to procure the services of the Fire Department, which were fully employed elsewhere, but every one was straining every nerve to save his own goods, or those of his neighbours. The fire broke out at 2.30 p. m., and though there is some doubt, wdien the church took fire, the last hour which struck on the clock w^hich had been there for sixty-five years, was 5 p. m. The fire first caught the steeple, and soon the whole bodv of the church was a mass of flames. Through the thoughtful kindness of Messrs. F. B. Hazen, and I. Thos. Richardson, the Historic Royal Arms w^ere saved, and a few other articles, through the eflbrts of Messrs. Chas. Ray, F. Smith, and the Sexton. The Holy Communion Plate and Parish Registers were preserved through the security afiorded by a Fire Proof Safe manufactured by Messrs. R. Flaherty & Co. All besides was burnt to ashes; and Avhile standino: that 36 JIlSTORV (»F TkIXTTY ClirRCTT. afternoon in tlu* midst of ho miicli de^ohition, iniinv felt the kiHMiest l>an<>: of sorrow us they heard, or saw, that "Old Trinity'' was no more. Xo more, that momiment of LovaltN' and Pictv. Xotliinii: remained of tliat noble heritai^e of tlie Lovalists. In a few honrs, the work of years waseonsumed, and the sacred site with its lieaps of aslies and stones, })resented a most desohite, and weird ai)pearance. But wliile " The bush hurned with tire, the hush was not consumed." The record of re-huildinsc the church will form a Biibsequent section of this history. The Sundatj ScliooL The tirst Sunday School was opened in 182f), in the Madras School Buildiuij^, then in King's Square. His Excellency the Governor was Patron ; Rev. B. G. Gray, President; Kev. J. W. I). Gray, Superintendent and Secretarv, and the (^hurch Wardens were Directors. In 1845, an eftort was made by the Sunday School teach- ers to have a building erected for the Sunday School, and to that end, handed in a petition to the Vestry to erect a building on the ground in the rear of the church. After some consideration the Yestry agreed to appropriate the ground for the erection of a Sunday School House. A large, substantial building, measur- iniir fortv-eis^lit feet bv about one hundred feet, was erected, chieity by funds raised by voluntary subscrip- tion, and in which the Sunday School was held, until the fatal 20th day of June, 1877, when it was destroyed in the Great Fire. The only one remaining of those who taught in the early years in the Sunday School is Mr. J. W. Lawrence, who was a teacher in 1836. In connection with the Sundav School, it is tittino^ History of Trinity Church. 37 to record that a Tablet l)earin<; the following inscription was erected in Tritiity Churcli : SACRED to the memory of Sarah DeBlois, late Superintendent of Trinity Church Sunday School, Who died Ist June, 1869, in the 78th year of lier age. This Tablet is erected by the Teachers and Scholars of the Sunday School, in token of their Love and Esteem for the Deceased, And in Remembrance of her Faithful and Zealous Services Therein, for more than Forty Years. " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord ; they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv., 13. The Burial ^rtound* On April 20tli, 1827, Mr. (George Gilbert made a proposal to the Corporation of Trinity Church, to con- vey to them lots of ground, containing eight acres, lying in the Parish of Portland, to be set apart as a burial ground, and for a church, reserving one half of the proceeds of the sales of the lots, as they may be disposed of, to him, and his heirs. The proposal was accepted, and the Church Wardens, with Mr. White and Mr. Crookshank, were appointed a committee to meet Mr. Gilbert, to lay out the ground in lots, and to have a plan made for the same to be submitted to the Vestry. The committee subsequently (July 25th, 1827), sub- mitted a plan for laying out the burial ground, which 38 History of Trinity Church. was approved of. The committee was further requested to have a fence erected round the ground, and to draw up rules and regulations, for the disposal of the lots, amount of fees to be paid, etc. These rules and regula- tions were duly submitted to the Yestry March 30th, 1832, and approved of. Several important changes in the rules then adopted, have been made. It was then ordered, that no clergyman or minister, other than the Rector of the parish, or his assistant, or some other clergyman in the orders of the Church of England, to be appointed by one of them, shall offtciate at any funeral, in such burial ground. It was thus clearly intended, that the burial ground was for the exclusive use of the Church of P^ngland, or for those who were willing to be buried with the rites of that church. In lapse of time, lots were frequently sold to persons, with- out informing them, that it was a rule,'that only a clergy- man, in the orders of the Church of England, c aild officiate at the funeral. It was therefore felt to be of the nature of a hardship, to enforce that condition at the time of the funeral. The Vestry therefore ordered that, subject to the approval of the Rector, other than ministers of the Church of England mav officiate in the burial ground. The project of reserving ground for building a church has also been long since abandoned, and the lots in that portion ot the ground, are oftered for sale like those in other parts. It may be useful to mention here, that the burial ground is under the charge of the Sexton of Trinity Church, and that application for the purchase of lots, should be made to the Vestry Clerk. ^hariti^s* "We are glad to be able to record that, from time to time, charitable gifts and bequests have been made to History of Trinity Church. 39 the Corporation, to hold in trust, for the benefit ot the needy and destitute. The Anning Charity. The first of such gifts, was made by Mr. John Anning, in 1856, when he w-rote to the Vestry the fol- lowing letter : — Gentlemen: Being desirous of placing the sum of Fifty Pounds at interest, for the benefit of the widows and orphans of this city, who may hereafter require assistance, I have thought that the money could be more safely deposited for that purpose with your Corporation, than in any other quarter. I there- fore beg leave to enclose herewith the Fifty Pounds above mentioned, and shall feel obliged if the Vestry of Trinity Church will receive the said amount, as a deposit to be held by them for ever, on the understanding that interest of said sum, (being Three Pounds per year) shall be paid continually to the Rector of Trinity Church for the time being, for the purpose of being laid out by him for the benefit of distressed orphans and widows, as he may consider best. I should wish to have this letter entered in the Vestrv books, as a record of the object to which the money is to be applied. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, (Sgd.) John Anning. To the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church, Parish of Saint John. The Vestrv cheerfully complied with Mr. Anning's request, and his benevolent design has ever since been duly executed year by year by the Rector. Botsfori) Orphan Charity. On April 7th, 1862, an offer was made by Dr. Botsford to the Vestry through the Rector, to hand 40 History of Trinity Church. over to them ^8,000, " to be held by tbeni in perpetual trust for the benefit of orphan children, without any other restrictions, than that it be appUed to this use.'' The offer was readily accepted, and the fund has been administered by the Vestry as the donor directed. - SwiNNEY Charity. This noble charity for the benefit of orphans and widows in the City of St. John, was founded by be([uest of the late George Swinney, Esq., Assistant Commissary- General. The followinoj extract is from the will of the Ibunder : ' " I desire that my Executors shall assign, transfer, and set over and pay, convey, assure and confirm all and singular my Real and Personal Estate, as aforesaid, and every part thereof, and the Funds, Stocks, and Securities in which the same or any part thereof shall be invested, unto the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church, in the Parish of Saint John, in the City of Saint John, TO HOLD to them and their successoi's forever : Upon the Trusts and purposes nevertheless hereinafter declared, and for no other use or pur- pose whatsoever; namely, to invest and keep invested the same and every part thereof forever, in such safe and un- doubted Funds, Stocks, or other Securities as the Vestry for the time being of the said (.'hurcli may deem most advan- tageous, and to apply and appropriate the interests thereof, and only the interest from time to time, towards the charitable assistance and relief of necessitous and poor Widows and Orphans, residents in the City of St. John, and such sum or sums as may relieve their pressing and urgent wants, exercis- ing a prudent and watchful care that the objects of this bounty and charity are really and truly in want and necessity, and are worthy and rindley Hazen, of St. John, the snni of eight liundred dollars was paid over in 1881 to the Rector, Church Wardens, and A\^stry of Trinity Church, to l>e held in trust, and applied as set forth in the following extract from her last will and testament : " To the Rector, Church AVardens, and Vestry of Trinity Church, in the Parish of Saint John, in the said City of St. John, Two Hundred Pounds (£200), to be invested by them in good real and personal securities, and the interest to be ap- phed annually by the Rector of the Parish for the time being — one-half in aid of any 'Dorcas Society' in connection with said Church, and the remaining half in aid of such poor per- sons in and about the City of Saint John as the said Rector may deem most worthy of such aid ; should there be no such Dorcas Society at- any time, then the whole of such interest to be so applied to the poor." This charity is dispensed year by year, as the late kind donor directed. Thompson Charity. By bequest of Miss Annabella Thompson, fifteen shares in the Bank of Xew Brunswick stock were handed over in 1881, to the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestry of Trinity Church, to be held l)y them and their successors, in trust for ever, for the purposes set forth in the following extract from her will : 4^ History of Trinity Church. "To the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestry of Trinity Church, Saint John, aforesaid, all my shares, right, title, and interest in and to the stock of the Bank of New Brunswick, in the said City of Saint John, the same or any security duly substituted therefor, to be held by them and their successors in trust forever ; to pay in the fii-st place to my faithful servant^ Mary Wilson, for and during her lifetime, the whole of the dividends or annual income arising from the same ; and at her death, and thenceforth afterwards, to apply and to distribute such dividends or annual income to and among such decent poor women as they may, in their discretion, deem most worthy, and in need to receive the same ; with full power and authority to the said the Rector, Wardens and Vestry to sell and dispose of such Bank stock at any time they may deem it advisable so to do, and the proceeds to invest in other suitable security or securities, and the income thereof to use and apply as last above said." Bequest. We would also place on record the very generous bequest of the late Charles Merritt, Esq., of St. John, who died in February, 1878, and by will bequeathed to the Corporation of Trinity Cliurch, eleven thousand dollars, together with his dwelHng house, and land attached thereto, on Charlotte street, on the death of his. widow. Bi$(|0))$ of tite Btoc«$i^, i79i-i891. : " llcmcmbcr tl)cm uil)'ui) l)aiic tl)c rule oner nou, iiil)a l)tttic spoken unto nou tl)e lHorii of (1>oli." hkhkews xm. 7. 1791-1891. The history of Trinity Church coukl not he con- sidered complete without some brief record being subjoined of the Bishops, who presided over the church during the century. itl)e Uicil)t IxcDcrcnb (lll)arlcs iFnoilis, D. D. It is a matter of much interest that the history ot Trinity Church dates back to a period only three years later than the foundation of the first Colonial Bishopric, that of Xova Scotia, in w^hich diocese, New Brunswick Avas then included. The first occupant of the See was the Right Reverend Charles Inglis, D. J). He was the third son of the Rev. Archibald Inglis, of Glen, and Kilcar in Ireland, W'here he w^as born in 1734. He left Ireland for America at an early period of his life, and on his arrival there, engaged in teaching a school. Having honourably acquitted himself in that employ- ment, and become favourably known to the clergy in the neighbourhood, he was encouraged to devote him- self to the ministry. Accordingly he went to England, and w^as admitted to holy orders by the Bishop of London. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, immediately appo'nted him as their missionary at Dover, in the State of Delaware. He remained there till 1764, when he was appointed Assistant to the Rector of Trinitv Church, New York. In 1767 the honorary degree of B. A. w^as conferred upon him by King's College in the Citv of New^ York, (45) 46 HisTOHY OF Tkixity Ciurch. iind a tt'w yours later, that of M. A. by the I^iiiversity of Oxford; and in the year 177H the same university conferred upon hini the degree of D. 1). In 1777 he was elected Kector of Trinity Church, Xew ^'ork, and and in 1783 he removed with his family to Halifax, Xova Scotia, as he had espoused the cause of the Loyalists in the Revolutionary War. On Sunday, August 12th, 1787, he was consecrated at Lambeth by the Archbishop ot Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of Rochester and Chester, the first Colonial Bishop of the Church of England, with ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the whole of British North America. He laid the corner stone of Trinity Church on August 20th, 1788, when he also delivered a charge to the clergy, and administered the rite of confirmation to a laro^e number. He paid a second visit to Xew Brunswick, when he reported most favourably to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, of the work done by the missionaries. On Sunday, August 19th, 1792, he arrived at St. John, when he consecrated Trinity Church, and held an ordination, admitting the Rev. Frederick Dibblee, and the Rev. Oliver Arnold to the order of Priesthood. Of the Bishop's work, we give the following elo- quent summary, from a sermon preached by Bishop Perry, of Iowa, in AVestminster Abbey, in 1887 : " Gathering his clergy together for counsel and personal knowledge, the Bishop of Nova Scotia proved himself to be a Missionary Apostle by the v isdom of his charges, and sermons, and the magnetism of his personal interest in each one, who had been placed under him in the Lord. In long and wearisome visitations, he visited, so far as was in his power, the various portions of his almost illimitable See, and till the close of a long and honoured life, he maintained that charae- 0.-' -0" The Right Reverend Charles Inglis, D. D. Bishop of Nova Scotia. Bishops of the Diocese, 1701-1801. 49 ter for devotion, that reputation for holiness, that fervour of ministrations, that faithfuhiess in every good word and work, which should characterize the 'good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.' Nor was this all. Through his long and earnest labours, ended only when the summons came to depart, and be at rest, ' much people were added to the Lord/ A church was organized, a college was founded, and built up to a measure of efficiency and success. The institutions of religion, and learning, were thus established and supported. The preaching of the Word, and the ministration of the Sacra- ments were provided for the crowd of exiles, who, in their devotion to Church and State, had exchanged their American homes for the bleak shores of Nova Scotia, and for the frontier settlers, in the dense forests of New Brunswick, and Quebec. Thus, through unremitting labours, blessed by God, ere the life of the first Colonial Bishop was ended, there had been set on foot measures, for the development of the Church of Christ in the northern portion of the American continent, which shall act, and react for good, till time shall be no more." He died at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, Feb- ruary 24th, 181G, in the 82nd year of his age, the 58th of his ministry, and the 29tli of his episcopate. He was buried under the chancel of St. Paul's Church, Halifax. A monument was erected in that church to his memory, bearing the following inscription : Sacred to the Memory of The Right Reverend and Honorable CHARLES INGLIS, D. D., Third son of the Rev. Archibald Inglis, of Glen and Kilcar, in Ireland. Bishop of Nova Scotia and its Dependencies, Whose Sound Learning and Fervent Piety, directed by Zeal according to Knowledge, And supported by Fortitude unshaken amidst peculiar trials, Eminently qualified him for the arduous labors of the 60 History ov Thimtv CiiriuH. First Bishop A{)p()iiite(l to a liritish Colony. This Stone is raised l)y Filial Duty luui Affection, in grateful Remembrance of every Private Virtue That could endear a Father, and a Friend, Of the Ability, Fiaching the harbour. It was crowded with a very respectable and attentive congregation. " At 8 o'clock I met so large a congregation at Trinity, the Parish Church of the City of St. John, that the aisles were most inconveniently crowded. Eighty-one persons had been diligently prepared by their Rector, the Rt William D. Gray, and nothing could be more interesting than the manner in which they received this holy ordinance. I ad- 54 History of Trinity Church. dressed th.3m at much length, and was very much affected myself. I hope they listened to me with becoming feeling. I considered my exhortation as a farewell to the flock, indulging the hope that this growing colony will be favoured with a resident Bishop. They listened with apparent earnestness, and my hope is, that it will be recollected with a portion of the affection with which it was offered to them. The day de- parted before we left the church. At half-past six I returned to the church in Portland, and was again met by a numerous congregation, of which forty-four were confirmed." ( )f his last visit to Xevv Brunswick, Bishop Inglis thus writes to the S. ]*. G. : (< -^r Thui-sday, August 26, 1841, as we approached the New Brunswick shore, with smooth sea, we saw a most calamitous fire raging in Portland, by wiiich seventy houses were burnt, and fifteen hundred persons were deprived of shelter, of whom five hundred were so poor as to be unable to do anything for their own relief After visiting various parts of the Prov- ince, I met the clergy Thursday, Sept. 9th, at St. John, de- livering a charge in Trinity Church, which obtained their serious attention. Friday and Saturday services were held at 11 o'clock, and the rest of the day to business. In Trinity Church on Sunday, Sept. 12th, 1841, at the morning service, Alexander Campbell, and William Scovil, were admitted to the order of Priests. After sermon by the Archdeacon, ad- ministered the Lord's Supper to the clergy. In the evening preached to a large congregation at St. Luke's Church, Port- land, from the words : ' Were there not ten cleansed ? But where are the nine ? Tiiere are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.' " • Bishop Inglis died in London, October 27th, 1850, in the seventy-third year of his age, the fiftieth of his ministry, and the twenty-sixth of his episcopate. A monument is erected to his memorv, in St. Paul's Church, Halifax, hearing the following inscription : Bishops of the Diocese, 1791-1891. 55 The Right Reverend John Inglis, D. D., Has followed his Pious Parent to the Grave, the inheritor of his Virtues and of his Zeal in the cause of his Divine Master, After a faithful service of many years as Rector of this Parish. He was consecrated in the year of our Lord 1825 Bishop of the Diocese. Endowed with talents of a high order, he zealouslv Devoted his whole life to the diligent discharge of his sacred duties as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ. He died on the 27th of October, A. D. 1850, In the Seventy-third year of his age, and the TAventy-sixth of his Episcopate. In erecting this Monument to their lamented Pastor and Bishop, the members of the Church have the Melancholy satisfiiction of uniting it with that on which he himself so feelingly recorded The Virtues of his Father. £6 History of Trinity Church. (iil)c illost Hci^ciTnb 3o\)\\ lllcMcij, D. 0., Bishop of Fredericton, and Metropolitan of Canada. The hope, expressed by Bisliop John Iiiglis, in his last visit to Xew Brunswick, that the growing colony would be tavoured with a resident Bishop, was fulfilled not long after. The date of that visit was 1841, and, on Sunday, May 4tli, 1845, the Rev. John Medley, D. D., was consecrated Bishop of Fredericton at Lam- beth, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of London, Lincoln, Bochester, Hereford, and Lichfield. Bishop Medley is the son of the late George Medley, Escj., of Grosvenor l*lace, London, and was born in London, December 19th, 1804. He was educated at schools in Bristol, Bewdley, Hammer- smith, C^hobham, and graduated with classical honours at Wadham College, Oxford, in 1826. He was or- dained Deacon in 1828, and Priest in 1829. His first parochial charge was that of St. John's Church, Truro, Cornwall, in 1831, and became Vicar of St. Thomas', Exeter, in 1838,w"]iere his name is still, and justly, held in respectful affection. He laboured there 'till 1845, when he received his call to " Come over, and help us," on this side of the Atlantic, here to spend the strength, and maturity of his life. Lnmediately after his consecration, Bishop Medley, always prompt in action, set out for his Diocese. He reached New Brunswick early in June, and on his arrival was presented with the following address of welcome, duly engrossed, and with the Seal of the Corporation thereto affixed, by the Corporation of Trinity Church: To the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Fredericton: My Lord : As the representatives of the members of the Established Church of England in this Parish, we hasten, Bishops of the Diocese, 1701-1891. 57 upon your Lordship's reaching our shores, to tender to you the expression of our high respect for the sacred office you sus- tain, and our best wishes for your personal welfare, and pros- perity, in this your newly constituted Diocese. The Episco])al charge of this Province having been, for many years, annexed by Letters Patent to the Diocese of Nova Scotia, we gratefully acknowledge the benefits we have derived from that connexion, and the zeal and paternal solicitude for the interests of our Church, at all times evinced by the Lord Bishop of that Diocese, whose arduous duties in his own extensive charge, have been so greatly augmented by the spiritual demands of this rising colony. Impressed with a firm conviction of the truth and excellence of the principles of our Church, and ardently desiring to see them more widely disseminated in this Province, and more deeply rooted in the affection of its inhabitants, we hail with lively satisfaction the formation of our Province into a dis- tinct See, under your Lordship's direction, as a measure well calculated to secure those blessings, by placing its spiritual concerns under the guidance of one, whose talents, and en- ergies will be exclusively devoted to the task, and who will henceforth exercise that Episcopal supervision of our scattered Churches, which, upon the principles of our Ecclesiastical Polity, is so essential to their welfare, and efficiency. We gladly avail ourselves of the present occasion to ex- press, our deep sense of gratitude, for the pious munificence of our fellow countrymen in the mother country, to which, under Divine Providence, we are mainly indebted for the bright and encouraging prospect now opened to our Church. Permit us, my Lord, while bidding you welcome to our shores, to pray that you may come to us, " in the blessing of the gospel of Christ," and that all your efforts to preserve our revered Church in the purity of her faith, and in the enjoy- ment of those forms and usages with which the pious feelings of Churchmen in this Province have, from its earliest days, been associated, may be abundantly crowned with success. 58 History of Trinity Church. Cordially desiring for your Lordship, and your family, health, happiness, and every spiritual ])lessing. We remain, my Lord, Your Lordship's humble, and obedient servants, J. D. W. Gray, Rector. 7 , - John V. ThuRGAR, ] ^^''«^ Wardens, • ; „- ___ > on behalf of the ,, -^ William Wright, ^ Church Corporation. The Kector, Clmrcli Wardens, and Vestry waited upon the Bishop on June 9th, at 2 p. m., in the St. John Hotel, and presented the Address, to which His Lordship made a verbal reply. . On Sunday, June 8th, the Bishop preached his first sermon in Trinity Church, which, through the kind- ness of His Lordship, we are able to sul)j()in, and which we know will be read with pleasure. ^ SERMON. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. " But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." . ■ —St. Matthew x., 29-31. The chapter in which this most beautiful and comforting declaration is found, opens with the solemn ordination of the twelve apostles to the office of the ministry. They were sent forth poor and simple men, clothed with the Lord's authority alone, to preach the gospel of the King- dom to the world lying in wickedness. Wherever they went, dangers and persecution awaited them. They were warned to expect to be seized, and delivered up to rulers, and to kings; they were told that division among brethren, strife among families, and all the terrors of a cruel death, would be the effect of their mission of peace. The protection which our Lord affords them against this combination of enemies, is neither the sword, nor the shield. The Most Reverend John Medley, D. D. Lord Bishop of Frederictqn, and Metropolitan of Canada ,, g : ... 1--^ .)■ Bishops of the ])iocese, 1791-181>1. 61 nor any of the weapons of carnal warfare ; but simply the fear of God, and the doctrine of a particular and f«uperintend- ing Providence. " Fear not them which iiill the b