OurHistory

St. Alban's Church History .

Badger's Quay was first described in a 1891 census as Badger's Key, with a
population of 87 people. Historians say that Badger's Quay was settled because
Pool's Island could no longer accommodate it's growing population.
One of our senior parishioners tells a story of how sixty people met one evening on
Pool's Island to discuss a community problem. There was no more space upon
which to build homes, sheds; no place for new gardens ,and such as was needed to
provide hearth and home.

Names were drawn from a hat to decide who would move "across the Tickle."
Thus began one of Newfoundland's first resettlements.

The cornerstone of St. Alban's Church was laid by The Revd. T.W. Upward on
Dec. 28 1905.

The first service was held on Sunday January 17th 1909.
The following is a quotation from the inside of St. Alban's
first Service Register, (Vestry Book) written by the hand of
The Revd. T.W. Upward in 1909:

The Foundation Stone of St. Alban's Church Badger's Quay was laid by The Revd.
T.W. Upward on the 28th day of December 1905, and the building was opened for
divine service on Sunday , the 17th day of January , 1909.

The Rev. Henry Earle.M.A. Incumbent of Greenspond mission , was the preacher
in the morning and the rector preached in the afternoon and evening.. Mr. E.H.
Humphries, L.R. read the first evening lesson and Mr. Walter Bugden the second.
Messers G. Parsons and Ernest Lush Lay Readers were also present in the choir.
The processional before the Holy Eucharist was "The Church's One Foundation",
The recessional "Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above." In the Evening the processional
was "Onward Christian Soldiers"; the Recessional "Through the Night of Doubt and
Sorrow". The Psalms sung at the evening service were cxxii & cxxxii. Mr E.H.
Humphries carried the Processional Cross.

Mr. Walter Bugden drew the plan of the building and Messers Aaron & Geo.
Gillingham were the builders. The building committee were messrs John Spurrell,
Robert Green, Robert Spurrell, Charles Dyke, Jesse Spurrell,Joseph Knee, S.R.
Winsor,William Spurrell,Abner Spurrell, and Frederick Hoskins.

Approximately one year after St. Alban's had opened, a church bell was presented
by the C.E.W.A. (Church of England Women's Association)
There is not a lot known about the bell but it may have been made by the Menelly
and Company. This company is the oldest bell maker in the United States and
around the early 1900's, they produced thousands of them for Churches and
Schools all over the country. At that time a thirty inch bell (about the size of St.
Alban's bell) would cost $167.00 and weighed in at 557 lbs.

The first sexton to ring the bell was Mr. Nathaniel Dyke,
followed by Benjamin Janes and
Noah Knee or uncle Nor as he was known.
After a few years being used, the bell had developed a crack and had to be sent to
Menelly and Company to be recast.

The inscription on the church bell reads as follows:

Menelly & Company
Watervliet, NY. 1923
To the glory of God
Presented by the C.E.W.A. 1910
Recast 1923

On Feb. 25 1929 it was decided to extend the Church building in order to
accommodate a rapidly growing congregation. You may view a photo of the 1930
expansion in our Photo Gallery.
The interior of St. Alban's is finished with varnished Georgian Pine, and contains
many family commemorative touches that make this beautiful building
well worth a visit.

Other.....
May 19th. 1939 - St. Alban's Bell tower was struck by lightning.
October 31, 1981 extensive fire damage.

Over the past years we have replaced the old furnace with two energy efficient
units, and reshingled the roof. We soon hope to replace many of our windows,
many of which are showing the adverse weathering effects of many years past.

From the Minute Book of St. Alban's:

The first meeting of St. Alban's Congregation was held in the school room on the
29th of January 1909, the Rector presiding. Robert Green was appointed the
Clergyman's Warden, and Robert Spurrell was elected people's warden.
Nathaniel Dyke was elected sexton
at a salary of $25.00 per annum.
John Spurrell sr. Samuel R. Winsor, Charles Dyke, William Spurrell, Joseph Knee,
Abner Spurrell, Frederick Hoskins and Jesse Spurrell were elected vestrymen. The
Ch. wardens and vestry were were appointed to the General Parish Committee with
two additional members - William Sturge, and Walter Burry.

It was agreed that the Church expenses should be provided for by levying a tax of
20 cents per setting on the holders of Pews, and in addition to that, a monthly
collection should be made for the same purposes. The meeting closed with the
Doxology and the Blessing.

..........................................................................................................................

ST. JAMES CHURCH - POOL'S ISLAND

Pool's Island was first visited in the 1700's . Settled around 1800 by English Seal
and Cod Fishermen, and was called "Fools" Island until 1850.

Pool's Island became the "Congregating Place" for schooners bound for the
Labrador from the early 1700's to the early 1900's. At a set time every year, ships
were sent off with a special "Sealing Service" held in St. James every year. Hence
the name The Sealer's Church.
By 1845 there was a School and Church Operating on Pool's Island. According to
the Census of 1857, The Church was Roman Catholic!

The First St. James Church was built at British Island (Brown's Island) and
Consecrated in 1840. Some of the materials from this Church were used
in the building of the present St. James.
Stephen White and Son Thomas of Greenspond were commissioned to build the
Church. Begun in the late fall of 1862, opened for use in the late winter of 1865.

FIRST HYMN SUNG AT ST. JAMES Was : From Greenlands Icy Mountains.
The Title of the Sermon: "I was Glad When They Said Unto Me, Let us Go Into
the House Of The Lord."
On Sept 15, 1865, the Church was Consecrated at
the 11:00 a.m. Service by Bishop Field.
Because the congregation was growing rapidly, it was decided in 1896 to increase
the length of the church building by 18 feet on the East End,
and to enlarge the Chancel.

The Bell used to call the faithful to worship today was purchased in 1884 from
J.Waines and Sons England. For another Historic event... The year 2001 marks the
time when St. James Congregation first held a Westward celebration of the eucharist.

St. James Church
The Mother Church

The Following writings are from a note book belonging to
Mr. Abner Kean of Pools Island.
Please Note the references to the age of the Church.......and remember -
these excerpts were written around 1960.
The form of Writing and Syntax is that of Mr. Kean
a man remembered well on Pool's Island.

St. James Church Pool's Island so far as can be learnt,
was put down about 1862.
It took three years to build and was consecrated on September 15, 1865
by Bishop Field.

The timber for foundation and framing was pulled out of the woods by hand on
wood slides. All the framing was chopped or hewn by hand all done with free
labour. Two carpenters from Greenspond was selected to build the church,
Stephen White and son. Stephen was the master builder. After the church was
built awhile, it was found to be not large enough, so it had to be made longer by ten
feet on the east end. 1897. As time went on it was found necessary to make the
Chancel of the church longer, again this was done by free labour. Records show it
to be February 1901 at a cost of $33.16 for material.

In the early days of the church, a lamp post was placed at the church gate on the
church rock and on the Queens Wharf. The lanterns would light the wharf for
people coming over for services in the night from the outside islands.

The bell was casted by J. Waines and sons London and marked:

St. James Church
Pool's Island
1884

During the building of St. James church, Capt. William Kean loaned a certain
amount of after a while he seen it was not going to be paid back. So he spoke to
the Lord Bishop about it . During the conversation the bishop told him he would
have to grin and bear with it. Capt. Kean replied "That's damn poor payment for
my bill, my Lord."

Before 1869:
Pools Island had a congregation of 697 people, in 1884 according to census figures
of that year. In 1911 there was a population of 420, in 1979 there were 216 Dykes
occupying Pouch cove Island but later moved to Pools Island and Greenspond
according to Slade and Co. Account books given to me by Mr. James Dewey,
telegraph operator at Greenspond in 1912, but now resides in Topsail.

So you see the call to service before the bell was by the means of a flag for 19
years. The fount so far as can be learnt have been in the church for 81 years.
The cover house on the fount was made by Walter Budgen while here as a teacher
and presented about 1909.
The pulpit is of English make and came from England. So did the windows and
doors. The chandeliers has hung in the church for 65 years. They were put up in
August 1895 with ropes, so as they could be lighted for the Bishops visit. But
during the night one of the ropes gave out causing one of the chandeliers to swing to
one side tipping two of its lamps down on the floor broken.
You can see that two of the lamps are different from the others. Cost 100 dollars
for chandeliers. The organ now in use has done service for 60 years. The only one
the church has owned. The first organ was loaned to the church by Mrs. Capt. Job
Knee who was the organist. The first bible used in church was presented to St.
James church Pools Island by the Society Promoting Christian Knowledge -
Whitsuntide. 1851.

Anne Janes was born March third 1815 at Big Pools Island as taken from the
records of births and deaths of William Kean. Married June 27 1833.

This book must have been presented to the first St. James church built on British
Island now called Browns Island. The book used at communion service has printed
across its cover, presented by the society promoting Christian knowledge. This
book must have came from the old church. 1842. Under the center pillar
supporting the gallery is 50 cents put there by Frederick Thomas Kean
about 1863 or 64.

The stained glass window in the east end of the chancel was put there in August
1903 cost being #35.05. The windows in the tower was cut down to how they are
at present, 1911. The old spire tower was taken off and replaced by a bell tower in
1956. The vestry was taken from the outside of the church in January 1956 making
it larger and more comfortable. The processional cross, collection plates and flag
was presented to St. James church in June 1957 in memory of the
Kean and Knee families.

Note opening service:

The first hymn sung at the opening of St. James church ( so I have been told) was
from Greenlands Icy Mountains. The first text was," I was glad when they said
unto to me, we will go into the house of the Lord." This must have been in the
winter or early spring of 1865, because people from Greenspond traveled over the
ice to be present at the opening. The first person carried in church for burial service
was Simon Spurrell who passed away July 12, 1865. He was the first person buried
in the old cemetery. 65 years later his son Cornealius Spurrell was buried, the last
person buried before the cemetery was closed, 1930.

The altar, reading desks, lectern and communion rail was made by Walter Bugden.
The first prayer book that there is any record of, was presented to St. James church
1890, by Capt. Job Knee. The two prayer books now in use was presented by the
C.E.W.A 1950. The bible for use in the pulpit presented by Mrs. Abner Kean
1945. The bible used on the reading desk presented by Miss May Winter 1957.
Two hymn books used on the organ presented by C.E.W.A, 1950, second by Mrs
Esther Barefoot 1959. Chant and psalm book used on the organ presented by
C.E.W.A 1927. Chair and cushion for organ use presented by Mrs. Frank
Kelloway 1959. Hymn board on north side of church presented by Fredrick Hoyles
1959, hymn board on south side of church presented by Fredrick Wicks 1959.
Two small vases on the altar presented by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Humphries 1938,
teacher. Cross on altar presented by C.E.W.A 1923. Electric lights was put in the
church in January 1949. This gives us eleven years using electric light and 84 years
using kerosene lamps. St. James church has been 61 years burning wood to give
her the necessary heat and 34 years burning coal.
(NOTE THE DATE)

During the early 1900 St. James church began to loose its members as the people
moved from the outside islands into the main land known as Badger's Quay, by
1909 St. Albans church was opened for worship. Before later date St. James
congregation moved its pulpit from the south side to the north side of the church
which brings to my mind the following composed by one of our local poets
( I quote):

The ugliest site my eyes did see , is the new church on Badger's Quay,
I would rather see the old one I do declare,
with the pulpit on the wrong side for forty three year.

Despite our small congregation our people have done all in their power to keep her
on her feet and in good condition, but as said in one of our hymns,
the future all unknown.

During some Sunday evening service by the Rev. Mr. Howe,
when he was about to start his sermon,
he saw smoke coming from a man in his pew.
He called out, George White you are on fire,
Which kinda scared him at that moment, saying "damned if I don't think so Parson.
"

Abner Kean

........................................................................................................................

The Anglican Church in Wesleyville

Wesleyville is noted mainly for it's Methodist background. However, for many
years, there was an Anglican Church Building Situated in the community. Today
there are several families in Wesleyville who are connected to
St. Alban's Church in Badger's Quay.
This Portion of our Website is about the history of St. John's Anglican Church and
will be growing as research allows.

Please Note: in typing the following, I have tried to follow formatting, spelling,
capitalizations etc, as closely as possible to the original documents to provide a
better "feel" for the reader.

Telegram sent on July 16th 1942
To the Rt. Revd. Bishop Abraham, St. Johns

Accidental burning United Church Wesleyville
impel undersigned committee representing local Anglicans
respectfully petition your Lordship's authority allow
United people temporary and limited use by them Wesley-
ville Anglican Church Building which has not been in
service last nine months. Both communities live in harmony
and good fellowship and in past helped each other in all ways.
United congregation now equipping own hall for services

Obadiah Winsor                      M.La Salle, M.D.
Griffith Oakley                          Solomon winsor

Telegram Received on July 17, 1942
to Dr.M.Lasalle, Wesleyville
Permission Willingly granted for use of Church
if parish wardens agree.
Bishop Abraham

Letter to the Congregation of Wesleyville United Church

Wesleyville, B.B.
July 17th, 1942

To the Minister and Congregation
of the United Church,
Wesleyville.

Brethren and Sisters in Christ:
We, the undersigned representatives of the Church
of England Congregation in Wesleyville, do hereby ex-
press our sorrow, and extend to you our sincere sympathy
on the loss of your Church Building on July 14th.

We live side by side; we share joys and sorrows;
happiness and trouble, gladness and gloom, cheer and
anguish, and bliss and tribulation are knitted together
in the lives of both our Congragations; and in this
mis-fortune we are co-sharers with you.

It is, therefore, with gladness in our hearts that,
with the kind permission of the Rt.Rev.P.S.Abraham, Lord
Bishop of Newfoundland, we place at your disposal, for
purposes of Divine Worship, our Church Building in
Wesleyville. Use it any time you like; make it your meeting
place; and feel perfectly at home in it.
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Obadiah Winsor                      M.La Salle, M.D.
Griffith Oakley                          Solomon Winsor

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