Catholic Parishes in PEI (c. 1885) by Rev. Alfred E. Burke
Please see the Contents page for information on this and other historical sketches of PEI Roman Catholic parishes, as compiled by Father Alfred Burke circa 1885.
The Mission of St. Bridget, Lot 11
The earliest settlers in this mission were exclusively Protestant with the exception of a family of English Catholics named Gain.
Not long after the settlement of these persons on Township Eleven, they were joined by John Callaghan from Wexford, Ireland and Patrick Murphy from the same place. At a somewhat later date, arrived on John Large, an Irish protestant with instructions from the proprietor. An Irish officer in the English Army Colonel Sir E. H. Walsh, to settle the property. Mr. Large established himself near the ferry, now called Walshtown Ferry and commenced to farm. Sending to Ireland rose coloured accounts of his new house, and expatiating on the advantages held out to those who would follow his example and emigrate. The result of Mr. Large's correspondence was that on the 1 April 1823 a ship with a number of emigrants on board left Ireland for Prince Edward Island. After a dreary passage of seven weeks, she arrived at her destination and a number of passengers who landed from her proceeded to Township Eleven and took up farms.
In the year 1834 the Hon. James Warburton arrived from Ireland as agent for Sir E. H. Walsh and gave leases to the Settlers on that gentleman's estate. These leases were issued on the usual terms, nine hundred and ninety nine years at a shilling per acre, per annum. Mr. Warburton did much to improve the township and is held in high esteem by the dwellers therein.
The church of St. Bridget was commenced in 1868, previous to that period, the Catholic settlers heard mass at Cascumpec. The church did not progress very rapidly, but on Christmas eve 1870 it was so far advanced as to allow of midnight mass being offered in it upon a temporary altar. It measures sixty feet in length by thirty in width, and twenty two feet, height of wall. The exterior was finished by Mr. Jeremiah Dalton, the interior, including the altar, which is a handsome one and richly gilt, was completed by the architect Mr. John McLellan. The church was painted by Mr. R. M. Gibson, and is very neat and pretty.
The trustees of this church at the time of its erection were James Kilbride, Esq. and the Hon. Joseph Murphy, the latter of whom is treasurer of the parish up to the present day.
The first pastor of St. Bridget's mission was Rev. James Arneas MacDonald. When he was removed from Cascumpec to DeSable, St. Bridget's was annexed to Grand River parish and was served first by Rev. M. J. McMillan, next by Rev. Angus McDonald, and finally by Rev. Laughlin J. MacDonald the present pastor.
The parishioners of Township Eleven recollecting the tedious crossing at Walshtown ferry and the long drive of nine miles to St. Anthony's Church, Cascumpec, have a very warm feeling of gratitude to their Rt. Rev. Bishop and their late indefatigable pastor, the Rev. James Arneas MacDonald, for their exertions in providing the neat little church of St. Bridget.
First Catholic Settlers of the Mission of
St. Bridget
Township Eleven
The Widow Gain
William Gain
John Callaghan (from Wexford)
Patrick Murphy
John Kilbride
John Bulger (from Queen's)
Richard Kelly (County [sic])
Thomas Roberts
Michael Aylesworth (from Kilkenny)
Martin Lynch (from Kilkenny)
John Barry (from Waterford)
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