NL GenWebNotre Dame Bay RegionExtracts from "A Century of Methodism in Twillingate and Notre Dame Bay"Rev. William Henry Edgar Mercerpublished by Twillingate Sun, 1932 | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 |Transcribed by Isabel Taylor & contributed by Beverly WarfordTranscriber's note: The spelling of certain names varies throughout the book and I have preserved these variations. I have concentrated throughout on local names, rather than the names and experiences of appointed ministers. Local ministers have been included. Typographical errors in the original are preserved, and are indicated by [sic]. Addresses to two local World War I veterans, published in the Twillingate Sun, 1918: "ADDRESS TO PTE. SAMUEL BLAKE Durrell's, It is with pleasure that we assemble here to-night to greet you, one of our returned Heroes who has done so much in bringing about this glorious peace. It is to men of your type, Pte. Blake, that we owe our lives and all the freedom which we enjoy. When you heard the Motherland crying for help you, like several of the brave men we have here to-night, did not turn a deaf ear, but nobly left your home and loved ones to try to help those in distress, and also to crush the cruel enemy. So please accept this little gift as a token of love and respect from your friends of the Arms. Sincerely yours, ARM GIRLS.
Brother Soldier, Pte Arthur Oxford.--- At the call for men you nobly responded to that call, and went forward with other heroes to do your bit, and after three years of duty in the Regiment received wounds which hinder you from again taking your place in the trenches. We see you bear the honourable marks of your warfare, and trust that your wounded arm will quickly recover its old time strength. You, with others who have suffered many hardships, must be happy to think that you have done your part to help crush German militarism, and secure victory for the arms of the Allies. We welcome you to your native home and we are glad in that while others have fallen you have been spared to return. We ask you to accept the accompanying gift as a small token of our appreciation of the stand you took for Liberty's Cause. Yours truly, Roland Gillett, John Gillett, C. E. Moores and others. [p. 55, from a section on the Memorial Belfry] It will stand to commemorate the Centenary of Twillingate Methodism, 1831-1931; the Jubilee of the North Side Church, 1881-1931, and will perpetuate the memory of the heroes of our Church who paid the supreme price in the Great War. The first sod for the foundation of the Belfry was turned on November 11th, 1931, by Mr. James Primmer .[p 56] The Belfry is a substantial building, built under the supervision of Mr Frederick Phillips, assisted by Mr Edward Smith . New Year's Day 1932, it [the new Memorial Bell] tolled for its first wedding when Mr. Claude Colbourne and Miss Lilian Troke were married. [NB Facing p 56 are photographs of local men who served in World War I. These include Hardy F. Snow (with C. Lench), Hiram G. and Albert Mutford, Peter Rose (with R. Linfield), Harvey L. Hodge, Edward Moors, Frederick White, Pearce King, Harvey B. Spencer, Samuel R. Pearce, Peter Randell, Archibald M. Newman, Gordon Stockley (with Norman and Pearce Jenkins), and Saul Keefe.] [p. 57] It [the Memorial Bell] tolled for its first funeral January 13th, 1932, when Mr John Elliott was buried. A valuable Brass Tablet, designed and engraved by Messrs. Maile & Son, Engravers, London, England, will be placed on the exterior of the Belfry. The engraving will read as follows: -- "To the Glory of God and in Grateful Memory of the Men of This Church Who Fell in the Great War, 1914-1918.
Harry H. Bourden, Also To commemorate the Centenary of Twillingate Methodism, 1831-1931, and the Jubilee of the North Side Church, 1881-1931.' Members of the Memorial Bell Committee: --
Magistrate F. Roberts, Convenor,
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF NORTH SIDE CHURCH. [From a section on the building committee for the new Church on the North Side of Twillingate. The committee was formed following a meeting on May 18th, 1880:] [p 59] The following persons were chosen as a Committee: Rev. T. W. Atkinson, Minister, Messrs. Peter Samways, Secretary, [p. 60] Frank Roberts, Andrew Roberts, James Wylds, Thomas Linfield, John Minty, R. C. Rowsell and Robert Moors. Robert Moors is the only member of the Committee now living. The cause of the North Side found a true and generous friend at this period in Messrs. William Waterman & Co., who offered a piece of land for the Church site. It was also resolved in that meeting,"that the Committee meet Thursday next on Church Hill at 6: 30 p.m. to look at the piece of land offered for the purpose by Messrs. W. Waterman & Co. It is inferred that this Hill was called Church Hill' owing to the Anglican Church being built near it years previous. On Thursday, May 20th, the following members of the Committee met on Church HillRev. Thomas W. Atkinson, Messrs. Samways, A. Roberts, F. Roberts, John Minty, Robert Moors, James Wylds, Thomas Linfield, also J. J. Pearce, Esq. The following entry appears in the record of the Committee on this subject, dated May 20th, 1880:"ResolvedThat we unanimously accept the piece of land kindly offered. R. D. Hodge, Esq., met with us and promised us the writings at an early date. At the next meeting convened R. D. Hodge, Esq., was appointed an additional member of the Committee and also elected Treasurer of the Building Committee and subsequently made Treasurer of the New Church. Messrs. Josiah Roberts and Samuel Manuel were appointed builders and Mr. Andrew Linfield was given a contract to build according to the pattern given. The Church auditorium and galleries will seat about 500 people and is very comfortable, and kept spotlessly clean by its capable sexton Mr. George Smith . [p. 61] The Church was completed in 1881 and was opened for worship September 1st, 1881, by the Rev. Webb Percival, who came to Twillingate from St. John's for its opening and dedication. [p. 62] At a meeting of the Trustees held January 31st, 1882 . it was decided"to give Samuel Manuel (£9) nine pounds per year as Sexton, and that a collection be made soon, as he was engaged the 1st of September. The date formerly mentioned marked the beginning of a new era for Methodism in Twillingate when"400 members were added to the Church.
SOCIETY CLASSES OF THE GRAND OLD METHODIST CLASS MEETING [p. 64] In 1850 there were twenty-three flourishing classes in this Circuit of Green Bay; sixteen meeting at Twillingate with Leaders, William Roberts, John Young, George Minty, John Roberts, Thomas Pooke, Robert Rideout, Joseph Minty, Peter Samways, Rachael Minty, Elizabeth Hull, Charlotte Loveridge, Martha Oxford, Phebe Pocke, Ruth Rideout, Ann Minty, Ann Samways; one at Little Harbour, Leader Jasper Dowland; two at Moreton's Harbour, Leaders, Robert Small, Dinah Small; one at Tizzard's Harbour, Leader, Robert Chant; one at Exploits Burnt Island, Leader, Joseph Manuel; one at New Bay, Leader, Edmund Moores, and one at Black Island, Leader, John Anstey. A footnote to the Class List states that"at Change Islands, Herring Neck and Fogo there are a few members, at least twelve in number. [NB. On p. 64 there is a group photo, captioned A Group of Ministers from the District, with Peter Samways and Andrew Roberts, under the Chairmanship of Rev. H. C. Hatcher, on the platform of N. S. Church in 1900.] In 1881 after the North Side Church was built Rev. T. W. Atkinson reports 200 members and 400 additional members on trial. At this date Twillingate Islands, North and South, comprised the Circuit and there were thirty-two Society Classes with the following Leaders:--Elias Roberts, Flora Roberts, Rev. Thomas W. Atkinson, North Side, Rev. T. W. Atkinson, South [p. 65] Side, Elizabeth Hull, Ann Samways, Elizabeth Cooper, John Minty, Rachael Minty, Elijah Kendell, Alfred Linfield, Maria Linfield, William Curtis, Isaac Moors, Ann Young, Susanna Linfield, Caroline Jacobs, Henry Loveridge, George Minty, Frank Roberts, Josiah Roberts, Abram Young, John Roberts, Peter Samways, Andrew Roberts, Mary Ann Hodder, Selina Boone, Jasper Dowland, Ann Pardy, Elizabeth Ann Stuckless, Mary Ann Roberts, Charles Moxham. In 1931 we have ten mixed classes led by men:--Jenkins' Cove School, Peter Jenkins; Durrell's Arm, James Horwood; Arm Academy Class-room, Robert Cooper and Edgar G Roberts; Marshall Hall and Church Vestry, Edward Smith; North Side Church Vestry, John Elliott; Crow Head Sunday School Hall, John Mills and George Dove; Back Harbour, Adolphus Price; Little Harbour, Bennett Anstey; Manuel's Cove, Kenneth Bourden; South Side Church, Arthur Burton, James Primmer. For the year 1850 Green Bay Circuit returned 251 members; in 1882 Twillingate Circuit after the Revival of 1881 returned 404 members and 41 of these were on probation. In 1931, 625 were returned with 66 of that number on probation, which indicated a substantial growth, although numerically there are not so many Classes. [p. 66] In the early days some portion of the Circuit Receipts was collected through the Society Classes. These subscriptions were called Class and Ticket Money. The following is a specimen copy:
[reproduced in entirety] [p. 67] QUARTERLY AND TRUSTEE BOARDS, 1850.
Rev. John Brewster, Pastor,
QUARTERLY BOARD, 1890.
[p. 69]
Young People's Department.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY, 1931.
[p. 70] South Side.
North Side.
© Isabel Taylor, Beverly Warford & NL GenWeb
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