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. Joachim, Vernon River
This mission comprises the districts of Cherry Valley, Gallows Point, Lake Verd, Avondale, Glencoe, Village Green, Summerville, Fairville, Albery Plains, Orwell and Uigg. As may be seen from the nomenclature of the country, the settlers are of various nationalities. The Scotch portion of the parishioners came to Vernon River from the estate of MacDonald of Glenaladale at Tracadie. They had settled upon Captain MacDonald's land upon arriving from Scotland, but not being satisfied with their holdings, determined upon moving, and took up their position in what is now called the mission of St. Joachim.
Some of the Irish families in the mission are from County Monaghan and were among those who originally formed a part of Fort Augustus Parish, others again from the southern counties of the Emerald Isle, emigrated to Newfoundland and thence found their way to Vernon River. Here and there may be found a sprinkling of English Catholics.
Many of the first parishioners were U.E. Loyalists and retired soldiers, who have to their advantage, exchanged the sword for the plough share. To the Highland families from the Tracadie is due the credit of having built the second church, a small log structure on the Southern side of the road, and very near the river. Prior to the existance of this chapel however, the earliest settlers of the mission had built a small log chapel at Pownal Bay, near to the present location of the Pownal wharf, on the farm of the late John Haley. Both these chapels were of course, built under the superintendence of Bishop McEachern. The third church was erected when Father John MacDonald of Glenaladale was in charge of all the eastern parishes of the Island. It stood in the north side of the road, and was a frame building 4- x 25 ft. It was enlarged by Father Brady during his occupancy of the mission: he built a sanctuary and transepts which gave the church a cruciform shape. The foundation stone of the existing church of St. Joachim was laid in 1877, the sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. Dr. O'Brien now Archbishop of Halifax.
The church is a magnificent edifice built of red brick. It is one hundred and twenty five feet in length by sixty two feet in breadth.
It was consecrated by the Bishop of Charlottetown in 1879, and solemnly dedicated in the month of August of that year. This latter ceremony was attended by a large number of clergymen. Bishop Walsh of London, Ontario delivered the oration. The church of St. Joachim stands on an elevated situation commanding a fine view of the surrounding country; exteriorly it is a very imposing structure. The interior of the church is frescoed; on the gospel side the scenes portrayed by the artists brush are taken from the life of our Lord, on the epistle side, they are from the life of our Lady.
The altar which was built by Mr. Newson of Charlottetown, after a plan by Mr. P. Lord of Boston, is very elegant in design and coloring. It was painted by the late Mr. John Murphy of Charlottetown.
The sanctuary behind the altar is in the form of the ancient apse: it is lighted by three stained glass windows; above each of these windows is a medallion, that over the central window being a representation of St. Joachim, the other two portraying St. John the Evangelist and St. Matthew. At the gospel side of the apse is a large frescoe of the apparition of our Lord to Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque, at the epistle end is one of the agony of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Over the lateral windows, which are of stained glass and very handsome, are painted medallions of the apostles. These windows are to perpetuate the memory of the following persons:
Patrick and Andrew Stephens
Richard and Georgina Clarke
Patrick Phelan
Catherine Hickey
Mrs. John Kelly (Mother of Edward Kelly of Lake Verd)
Daniel Walsh
Peter Hickey
Michael McInnis
Andrew McInnis
Thomas and Rose Sullivan
The stations of the cross are oleographs and were given by Father McInnis of Boston.
Facing the entrance door on the left side is a picture of St. Alphonsus and under it a statue of the Blessed Virgin. The entrance door to the right of the main portal opens on a picture of St. Theresa, and under it is a statue of St. Joseph.
Two handsome statues of adoring angels keep guard over the altar. The holy water fonts are in carved stone, the handiwork of Mrs. Lewis of Cardigan Bridge.
Looking up the nave from the main entrance St. Joachim's church presents a grand appearance. The columns which support the arched roof are particularly well painted and closely resemble colored marble. The windows which are numerous are all of richly tinted glass and shed a soft light in which the frescoes show to capital advantage. The pews, surbase, doors are of solid ash and black walnut. The church is furnished with a side chapel, as well as with commodious vestries.
In the summer of 1886 the Rev. James Phelan purchased for the church of St. Joachim, a fine bell, weighing fifteen hundred and thirteen pounds. It was blessed by the Bishop of Charlottetown on Sunday July 11 and was named St. John. A large number of persons from the neighboring parishes congregated at vernon River to witness the ceremony and the beautiful church was filled to overflowing. Mass was sung by Rev. J.C. McDonald, Rector of St. Dunstan's College, who also preached the appropriate sermon. A collection of three hundred and twenty dollars was taken up, toward defraying the cost of the bell.
The cemetery adjoining the church, is the last resting place of many of the prominent pioneer Catholics. Within its precincts lie the remains of Father Brady for many years pastor of this mission, who died in 1862 and was buried in Vernon River, where a handsome marble chart has been erected to his memory by his late parishioners. Here also a fine marble tomb covers the remains of the late Patrick Stephens of Orwell, Esq., whose Shakesperian epitaph gives a synopsis of his many virtues and useful life.
"He was what? He was what a man ought to be, he was that."
The first cemetery of Vernon River Mission, was, as has before been stated, on the farm of Mr. John Haley, the second is discernable from the existing one: it stood on the opposite side of the road from the church and is now almost overgrown with trees.
St. Joachim's mission was first attended by Bishop McEachern, from 1823 to 183-, Father Fitzgerald then missionary in Charlottetown served the mission, upon his successors in the capital devolved the same duty, until the arrival in 1838 of Rev. James Brady, who was the first resident priest. Upon the death of Father Brady in 1862, Rev. F.X. de Langie was for a time in charge of the mission; he was succeeded in 1863 by Rev. James Phelan the present worthy pastor.
During the period of Bishop MacDonald's ministry in Charlottetown he attended the Vernon River mission. He was up there on one occasion when there arrived at his house a woman tired and weary, carrying an infant upon her back. She was a Mrs. Toker from Point Brule, a pious and devout Catholic, who, having no other means of having her child baptized, brought it over to Charlottetown, in a boat, and finding the priest absent, started on foot for Vrnon River, where she was told that she would find him. Father McDonald was deeply impressed with her strong Catholic faith and courage. He treated her with the utmost hospitality, sent her back to town in his own carriage and arranged for her voyage home in a schooner. The little boy, thus baptized, was afterwards sent by Archbishop Connolly to the Propaganda, where he died.
First Catholic Settlers of the Mission of
St. Joachim
Vernon River
John Haley
Martin Keoughan
Edward Morrisey
Roderick McNeill
Donald McMillan
Alexander McDonald (Doctor)
Angus McDonald
Hugh Fraser
Roderick McIsaac
John McInnis
John McDonald (North Pole)
Ronald McDonald
Alexander McGillivary
Chisholm
Henry Wright
Welcome | Genealogy | Books | Services | Photography | Poetry | Links | Contact