Before concluding this chapter, which comprehends all that can be
collected relative to the affairs of the settlement during the first
year of its existence, it will be proper to observe that in founding
the City, the spiritual wants of the settlers were not lost sight of by
the British Government. Preparatory to the embarkation of the settlers,
a letter was addressed by the Lords of Trade and Plantations to the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, dated
Whitehall, April 6th, 1749, recommending to the Society to appoint
ministers and school-masters for the new settlement at Chebucto, and for
such other townships or settlements as should from time to time be
formed in Nova Scotia, and requesting the Society to make some
provisions for them until arrangements should be made for their
sufficient support, by grants of land, etc.[20] The Society resolved
immediately to act on this recommendation, and undertook to send six
clergymen and six school-masters, when the settlements should be formed.
The first missionaries appointed under this arrangement, were the Rev.
William Tutty, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and the Rev. Mr. Anwell,
who both came out with the settlers in June, 1749. Mr. Tutty officiated
in the open air until the necessary church accommodation could be
obtained. On laying out the town, a spot was assigned by Government for
the church. The site was first selected at the north end of the Grand
Parade, where Dalhousie College now stands, but it was changed
immediately after for the present site of St. Paul's Church, which was
erected at the expense of Government and ready for the reception of the
missionary, who preached his first sermon there on the 2nd day of
September, 1750. The pews and inside finish were not completed for
several years after. The name of Mr. Tutty does not appear among those
of the settlers who came with Cornwallis. He probably, however,
accompanied him. Mr. Anwell came with the expedition, but his name does
not again appear; he died shortly after his arrival. Mr. Tutty spoke
German and administered the Lord's Supper to the German settlers in
their own language. The other missionary, J. Baptiste Moreau, who came
out as school-master, and afterwards went to England for ordination,
returned to the settlement and went down to Maligash with the Germans,
1752. Mr. Halstead was the school-master in charge of the Society's
schools at Halifax during the first two or three years.
[Footnote 20: A copy of this letter will be found in the appendix.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account