Irish Born Clergymen who Served in PEI
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- Speakern
- SpeakerThe speaker explains the significance of the Protestant and Catholic clergy for the people of Ireland. Ten percent of the 10,000 Irish settlers who came to PEI were Protestants and the rest were Roman Catholic. This contrasts with the rest of Canada and the USA where the number of Protestant Irish immigrants was equal to or greater than the number of Catholic Irish immigrants.
- SpeakerOf the Protestant clergy, the speaker will include the Presbyterians, Baptists, Wesleyans/Methodists and Anglicans. The only Irish-born Presbyterian in the 19th Century was Samuel Brown serving from 1847 to 1848 to the largely Scottish congregation at the Kirk of St James in Charlottetown. He was sent out from Scotland but had prepared for the ministry in Ireland.
- SpeakerThe speaker introduces three Baptist Ministers namely Joseph K. Hill, who served in Summerside, M.C. Higgins and David Ryce. The speaker knows that they were born in Ireland, but little else.
- SpeakerThe speaker introduces seven Irish-born Methodist (Wesleyan) ministers. Colonel Thomas Dawson arrived in the early 1800s and ministered in parishes all over PEI. J.P. Hetherington came to Charlottetown in 1824. He built the first Wesleyan chapel in 1835 on the site of Trinity United Church, in Charlottetown. Robert Cooney served in Murray Harbour from 1831 to 1833. James Buckley served in Murray Harbour in 1838 and by 1850 was serving the Bedeque/Tryon area. William McCarthy served in Pownal in 1847. William Ryan was in King’s County in 1858, in Pownal in 1863 and in Margate in 1869. Dr. Matthew Ritchie came to PEI in 1864. The speaker also explains the formation of the United Church.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that Presbyterianism is strong in Northern Ireland. However, if the whole island of Ireland is considered, it is about 75% Catholic. Thus the number of Irish-born Protestant clergy coming to PEI was not representative of the Irish population. The speaker continues describing the C of I (Church of Ireland) or Anglican Church. There are High and Low Anglican churches in both P.E.I and Ireland. In Charlottetown, Saint Paul’s is a Low Anglican church and Saint Peter’s is a high Anglican church.
- SpeakerTheophilus Des Brisay was the first protestant minister in P.E.I. His father was the first lieutenant governor in the province under Governor Walter Patterson. Des Brisay served 37 years at St.Paul’s Church in Charlottetown.
- SpeakerCornelius Griffin was rector of St. George's Parish and Charlotte Parish. The speaker explains that in these instances “parish” was a geographical location designated by Samuel Holland that included a number of lots. Since the Anglican Church was the state church until 1869, Anglican ministers were appointed by the government and paid from taxes. Griffin was also Superintendent of Kent College, which existed before the creation of Prince of Wales College.
- SpeakerRobert T. Roach was a minister in Georgetown around 1855 when he was involved in a riot by the fisherman. He was Grand Chaplain of the Loyal Orange Institution of P.E.I. which originated in Ireland. The organization was very important in those days for political purposes and sectarian direction resulting in segregation and conflict on PEI. The speaker quotes from a letter Roach wrote to the newspaper Monitor.
- SpeakerJoseph William Forsyth, a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin as were most Irish Anglican clergymen, was ordained in 1859 and served at St.Eleanore's in Summerside. He died in 1915.
- SpeakerThe speaker relates that Charles O'Mara left PEI on October 1, 1877, but does not know his date of arrival. David Fitzgerald served as assistant minister for 10 years and then for 27 years as minister in Charlottetown’s St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Fitzgerald, from Tralee, County Kerry, was outspoken and involved in controversial issues both in Ireland and on PEI. The descendants of Minister David Fitzgerald live in Charlottetown. The speaker provides information on his son Judge Rowan Fitzgerald.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that he knows only the names of three additional Protestant clergymen - Lallie, Wilson and Welch.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that there were Roman Catholic priests in PEI before the Catholic Church was established on PEI. Robbie Byrne, a military chaplain at Port La Joye in 1733, was the first Catholic priest on PEI. Patrice Lagrey also known as Patrick McGee was in Port La Joye from 1749 to 1752. Thomas Power was a roving priest in Nova Scotia from 1787 to 1806 and is thought to have visited PEI too. Reverend William Ryan, noted above, may have offered services to the immigrants coming off the ship Elias in 1811. The speaker also explains that these priests may or may not be Irish and may or may not have served on PEI.
- SpeakerThe speaker notes that the priests James Jones, William Fallon and J.P Hogan may or may not have been on PEI.
- SpeakerThe speaker introduces the Newfoundland priests Henry Francis Fitzsimmons, Ambrose Fitzpatrick, and Alexander Fitzgerald. Fitzsimmons was a Francian who came in 1803 staying only three months. Ambrose Fitzpatrick came in July 1815 and stayed at Ms. Mcphee's Boarding House in Charlottetown.
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- SpeakerThe speaker relates that Father Fitzpatrick assembled materials to build the first Catholic church in Charlottetown before unexpectedly returning to Newfoundland. Alexander Thomas Fitzgerald was a Dominican Priest in Charlottetown from 1823 to 1829. He was a founding and active member of the Benevolent Irish Society in 1825. The speaker reads at length from a publication about Father Fitzgerald after explaining the purpose of the publication.
- SpeakerEdward Walsh came from County Kilkenny to Halifax. Bishop MacEachern recruited Walsh as the first rector at the newly established St. Andrew’s College. Father Walsh was a good teacher, an able administrator, and a powerful preacher. However, he struggled with personal problems and lasted only four years as the rector. He returned to Kilkenny where he died in 1840.
- SpeakerCharles MacDonnell came from Mohill, County Leitrim continued his studies for the priesthood at St. Andrew’s College while Father Walsh was rector. MacDonnell was ordained in Antigonish. He became the second rector of St. Andrew's College as well as pastor of Tracadie, Covehead, Fort Augustus and Vernon River and tutor to Father James Brady. Due to ill health, MacDonnell was transferred to Charlottetown where his cousin, Father Malachy Reynolds, arrived from Ireland to assist him. Father MacDonnell died on January 1, 1840, and was buried in the vault beneath St. Dunstan’s Cathedral.
- SpeakerFather Malachy Reynolds came from County Leitrim and served from 1839 to 1867. His nephew John Kenny, who taught at Prince of Wales College, came with him. During his 11 years in Charlottetown, Father Reynolds built the St Dunstan’s Cathedral, led the Total Abstinence Society, and aided Irish immigrants in settling and building their own churches. The speaker reads from his notes highlighting the significant influence Father Malachi had on PEI’s Catholic community at that time. In 1867, Father Malachi returned to County Leitrim and died there a few years later.
- SpeakerThe speaker notes the presence of the Irish priests James T Morris and William Dollard on PEI. James Brady, from County Cavan, was ordained in July 1838 at Rustico. He served Tracadie and Vernon River Parishes and was rector of St. Andrew’s College. Because the College declined under Father Brady’s administration it was closed in 1844. Father Brady then became pastor of Vernon River, Fort Augustus, Tracadie, Covehead, Baldwin’s Road and Iona. In 1847 Father Brady was a co-administrator of the Diocese when the Irish Belfast Riot occurred for which he was accused of encouraging. In 1861 Father Brady was sent to Kinkora/Seven Mile Bay. When he became ill, he went to live with his brother in Fort Augustus. He was buried in Vernon River.
- SpeakerThomas Quinn from Mooncoin, Kilkenny was ordained in 1849 in Rustico. Quinn served at St. Andrew’s before returning to Ireland. Thomas Fallon from Mooncoin was a pastor for one year in each of Charlottetown and Rustico, returned to Charlottetown from 1851 to 1859 followed by 27 years in Tracadie and Covehead including Corran Ban and Fort Augustus. In 1887, he retired and returned to Mooncoin. Brothers James and William Fallon, Thomas Fallon’s cousins, served on PEI. James arrived in 1854, was ordained in 1856 and served Vernon River for 27 years. William Fallon was ordained in 1864 and served St. Andrew’s in 1866 and later St. Peter’s, East Point, Montague Bridge, and Sturgeon. Steven Thomas Fallon of Mooncoin, nephew of Thomas Fallon, was ordained in 1867 served in Alberton in 1879, and later Georgetown/Cardigan Bridge.
- SpeakerJames Duffy and James McKenna came from County Monaghan. Although born in Ireland, McKenna came at age 5 and so he is considered an Island-born priest. James Duffy had a short but memorable time in PEI, which Hughie Campbell will present as a lecture at another time.
- Speaker-Conclusion, remarks, Questions and answers follow.
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