Both the Anglican minister, Edward Langman, and Governor Edwards were opposed to the new dissenting minister, but following a petition supported by prominent merchants and by Colonel Pringle, the Chief Engineer, the sacrament of the Lords Supper was celebrated in the Meeting House in October 1780 and John Jones was granted his licence as a dissenting minister in 1781. When Governor Campbell granted a free liberty of conscience in 1784, a small silver inscribed cup was sent by the Dissenting Church of Plymouth to the Dissenting Church of St. Johns. Growing numbers, the establishment of a charity school and fee paying school (at which John Jones taught until his final years), and encouragement from friends in England, led to the building of the second Meeting House (on the site of the L.S.P.U. Hall on Victoria Street) in 1789. A large part of the funding was raised in England. Subscription lists can be found in the Journal which John Jones began in 1781. Correspondence with the Roman Catholic Bishop ODonel, recorded in the Journal, reveals a cordial relationship. Jones preached regularly at Quidi Vidi, and held services at Portugal Cove and Torbay. He died on March 1 1800, having suffered a paralytic stroke earlier. The congregation continued to be served by Congregational (or Independent) ministers from England, most of whom stayed only a few years. During the ministry of the Rev. W. J. Hyde, 1813 to 1816, a Missionary Society was established with branches at Carbonear, Brigus, Port de Grave, Grates Cove and Twillingate. Following the departure of some prominent members to the United States after the fire of 1817, including Nathan Parker and the Rev. James Sabine, the Meeting House was without a minister for two years and the congregation dwindled. There was a revival during the ministry of the Rev. D.S. Ward (1824-1843). Repairs to the Chapel (as the Meeting House was now called) were undertaken. In 1833 it became legal for marriage ceremonies to be performed. The first to be celebrated was that of Thomas B. Job to Jessie Carson, youngest daughter of Dr. William Carson. The Rev. Mr. Ward lamented that Petty Harbour, Portugal Cove and Torbay had fallen into other hands, but he was responsible for the building of a church and school room at Quidi Vidi in 1834 on an ecumenical basis, sharing with Anglicans and Wesleyans. The venture lasted until 1842, when the property was taken over by the Anglicans and a new church, Christ Church, was built. Ward collected £1,200 in England for a new chapel, but his death in 1841 intervened, and it was not until the ministry of the Rev. George Schofield (1849-1857) that the move to the Stone Chapel on Queens Road was made. The Hon. Joseph Noad, chairman of the Building Committee, presented the trowel to Thomas Bulley Job M.H.A., for the laying of the corner stone in 1851. The Rev. Charles Pedley wrote his History of Newfoundland (1863) during his ministry from 1857 to 1864.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 09:54:43 +0000
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