Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island
"Settled in 1790 and incorporated in 1953"
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The Healing Springs...
are located near Mount Stewart. It is said to have been blessed by Father MacEachern. People have come from all over to drink the water. Ask a Local for directions, if you are in the area.
St. Andrew's Chapel
St. Andrew's Chapel
Because of its unique history, St. St. Andrew's Chapel is an important heritage site. But its history was destined to be forgotten had it not been saved for demolition in 1998 and moved from Charlottetown to St. Andrew's PEI, where it was built in 1805.
Built by Scottish settlers who had arrived in 1772, it was the first major church in Prince Edward Island.
Considered "elegant in its construction" this fine chapel was built under the direction of Father MacEachern, at that time the only missionary to serve all the settlers on Prince Edward Island - the Scots, the French, the Irish and the Micmacs.
Replaced by a larger church in 1862, it stood abandoned until 1864 when it was moved 20 miles over the ice to Charlottetown, a feat considered little less than miraculous at that time
A first-hand account of the day tells us that with the help of 500 men and 50 teams of horses, the huge building was placed on runners and dragged very slowly to Charlottetown. But disaster struck as they approached the channel where the ice was thinner. The building went through the ice requiring superhuman effort to drag it from the water. It was finally landed on Pownal Street on the third day of its perilous journey.
The building was renovated and handed over to the Sisters of Notre Dame for use as a school, and on September 6, 1864, St. Joseph's Convent opened with more than 100 pupils. The Sisters operated the school for girls in Charlottetown for more than 100 years.
On July 17, 1987, the old chapel, now vacant once again for some time, suffered a disastrous fire. Interior damage was mainly to the renovations dating from 1864, but the fine and firm structure of the building remained, revealing huge hand hewn timbers and wide board construction typical of the early 19th century.
Aside for the history of the building it was these qualities that justified an extraordinary effort to save it form demolition. So the building was carefully cut into four pieces and hauled back to St. Andrew's
During the restoration and refurbishing, the original round-headed windows were discovered. This important architectural detail, along with those described in old letters and diaries, established that the building was a fine example of 18th Century Georgian architecture, a style used by the very early settlers from England and Scotland.
Once again the focus of widespread interest in PEI, St. Andrew's Chapel will be used for lectures, seminars, concerts, plays, family reunions and anniversary celebrations.
The Chapel is located on Rte 2, 3km east of Mt. Stewart and 28 km from Charlottetown.
Father Angus MacEachern, First Bishop of P.E.I.
When Father Angus Bernard MacEachern arrived from Scotland at the little mission in Scotchfort in August, 1790, he began an ardous ministry that lasted almost 45 years. He had been assigned by the Bishop of Quebec, whose jurisdiction included the Maritime regions, to minister to all the Catholics of P.E.I., Cape Breton, and part of New Brunswick.
Single-handedly, the young priest diligently fulfilled his obligations for 30 years. In summer and winter he would trek for miles or endure long sea-voyages in foul weather to reach the sick and the dying of his far-flung missions.
At age 62, he was named Bishop of Rosen, But now, as Bishop of the Maritime region, his responsibilities were incareased to include the Magdalen Islands.
Desperately in need of funds and assistance, he appealed to Rome repeatedly for independent Diocesan status. Finally, on August 11, 1829, MacEachern became the first bishop of diocese of Charlottetown. He then acted quickly to establish a college and seminary at St. Andrew's the forerunner of St. Dunstan's college in Charlottetown, now the campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
The Right Reverend Bernard Angus MacEachern {biography}
(February 8, 1759 - April 22, 1835)
(click to enlarge)
was a Scottish Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church who rose to become the first Bishop of the newly-formed Diocese of Charlottetown following its separation from the Archdiocese of Quebec on August 11, 1829.
MacEachern was born in Kinlochmoidart, Scotland, the son of Hugh Bàn MacEachern and Mar MacDonald. He received his seminary training in Spain, for Catholic training in the British Isles was forbidden at the time. MacEachern arrived on Prince Edward Island, then a British colony in North America known as St. John's Island, in 1790 as a young missionary, joining his emigrant family. MacEachern, who would later be recognized as firmly placing Catholic roots in the colony as well as throughout the Maritimes, travelled endlessly in the area as a priest. He was fluent in English, French, and Gaelic, therefore permitting him to minister to a variety of different cultures in the region.
In 1816, while serving as priest in Charlottetown, MacEachern was advised by a visiting Bishop from Quebec to build a church in the city and dedicate it to St. Dunstan, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church was the first of several that would occupy the lot where the present cathedral stands today.
In 1819, MacEachern became Vicar General for most of the Maritimes as well as becoming a Bishop, and by the 1820s he was convinced that the only way to renew the area's religious beliefs was independence from the neglectful Archdiocese of Quebec. MacEachern finally got his wish when the Diocese of Charlottetown, comprising of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and the Magdalen Islands was created in 1829, with MacEachern appointed as its first Bishop.
In 1831, MacEachern founded St. Andrew's College (Charlottetown)|St. Andrew's College]], located in his large home in St. Andrew's, PEI, which would offer preliminary training for seminarians.
Much loved by his people, Bishop MacEachern died in 1835 in Canavoy, Prince Edward Island. His funeral took place in St. Andrew's Church, with burial in the church basement. His remains now lie in the crypt of a nearby chapel.Read more on Bishop MacEachern:
www.biographi.ca
www.ourroots.ca