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St. Bee's Anglican Church
St. Bees’ Church
The name of St. Bees’ is interesting, and is thought to come from the name of the first Church of England in Northumberland about 650 A.D. The first Anglican service was held upstairs in Michael Muir’s Hall. The Rev. Maurice Taylor, who had come from the Punjab to serve as Anglican rector in Stellarton 1890, was the officiating clergyman. During the winters of the early 1890’s, the Rev. Mr. Taylor used to snowshoe through the woods from Albion Mines to conduct services in Westville until the arrival of the Rev. Edward Ball in early 1897. Mr. Ball was appointed curate with special responsibilities for Westville.
Westville was made a separate parish sometime during the first half of 1897. Charles Fergy and James Floyd, officials at the Drummond, were instrumental in building the first church on College Street, now the residence of Robert Wright. The Rev. E.H. Ball performed the first baptism in St. Bees’ Church on June 9, 1897. The person baptized was Katie Fraser Muir, daughter of James and Agnes Muir. The first St. Bees’ Church was consecrated on August 28, 1898.
It was obvious that from its earliest days the ladies of St. Bees’ congregation were interested in providing wholesome entertainment for the town, as the following quotation from the “Free Press” of January 7, 1897 shows:
“On Monday, January 24, St. Bees’ congregation propose (sic) holding a social and concert – a very pleasant time may be expected.”
Other clergymen who served in the parish were the Revs. C. O’Dell Baylee, E.B. Spurr, H. Lindsay, E.W. Florence, J.F. Tupper, J. MacAlden, G.R. Harrison, J.M. Wade, Leslie A. Todd, W.A. Anderson, M. Ferguson, G.M. Hutchison, J.C. Earle, T.B. Purves, A.E. Kingsbury, Roland Farwell and C.W. Russell.
The present St. Bees’ Church, dating back to January 26, 1913, was consecrated during the ministry of Rev. E.W. Florence. It is of interest that Mr. Florence wrote Lord Strathcona for assistance, with the result that a donation of $1,500 was given toward the building of the church. In 1956 a Wurlitzer electric organ was placed in the church as a memorial to the Rev. L.A. Todd and a new Todd Memorial Hall was officially opened on November 27, 1965. Rev. Todd served the parish for over 20 years.
Mr. William Hale lays the
cornerstone to the new St. Bees' Church Hall on August 2,
1965. Witnessing the proceedings , l to r: Allie
Darroch, contractor; George Reekie; George Dawson; Joe
Partington; and Rev. B. Purvis
Catholic Churches: Immaculate Conception and the Holy Name
The next congregation to erect a place of worship was the Roman Catholic. Rev. Ronald MacDonald, pastor of Pictou prior to 1872, was responsible for the Catholics in Westville. He celebrated Mass at the residence of Pat Mahoney, on week days, and less frequently on Sundays in the Miners’ Union Hall. In June 1872, Rev. Roderick MacDonald came to the Pictou parish to assist his brother, Rev. Ronald MacDonald. One or the other of the Pictou priests used to offer Mass at stipulated times at the home of Ned Doyle, and this practice continued until the first Westville church was built.
In 1871, there was some thought given to the building of a church, but there was a difference of opinion as to the site. It was finally decided to build in the north end, near a number of Catholic families. Land now used as a parking lot was purchased from the original Acadia Company. A frame was bought from the grandfather of G.E. Munro and the church was started in 1873, a little before the Drummond explosion, the shell of the church stood for five or six years before being completed in 1878.
The first Roman Catholic Church
in Westville, The Church of the Immaculate Conception,
completed in 1878 on North Main Street, site of the present
parking lot for the Church of the Holy Name.
In June 1876, Westville became a part of the new parish of Albion Mines, Father William B. MacDonald was the first pastor of the new parish, and when the church was completed, he gave the title of “Immaculate Conception”. He remained in charge of the Albion Mines parish for 42 years. The first Mission was preached by Fathers Dougherty and O’Brien in ’86 or ’87. Pews were put in the church in ’87 or ’88. Previous to that, there had been a few benches for old people and the women sat on one side and the men on the other. During the first part of 1903, Westville became a separate parish.
The first resident pastor was Rev. Roderick MacDonald, who had served in the mission 30 years before, when he was assistant to his elder brother, Rev. Ronald, at Pictou. He served the Westville congregation until February 1914, when he was succeeded by Rev. Alexander S. MacKenzie, who served a period of 22 years between 1918 and 1940. The present parish church of Westville was built under the Rev. MacKenzie’s direction circa 1921, and at his request, gave it the title of “The Holy Name.”
After the new church was opened, the old church was used for recreational purposes. Chicken wire was placed over the windows, and the boys gathered to play basketball. This was discontinued after a time, and the main part of the church was dismantled and taken down in 1930 or ’31. The vestry was moved across the street and now forms part of the residence of Michael Muir.
Rev. Joseph F. Day served the congregation from 1940 to 1952. Part of this period, from 1950 to 1952, he was assisted by the Very Rev. Dean Rev. John A. Gillis was Parish priest form 1952 to 1956. Rev. Norman L. MacPherson was parish priest from 1965 to 1968 when Rev. John W. Devison served from 1956 to 1965. Rev. Norman L. MacPherson was parish priest from 1965 to 1968 when Rev. John M. MacKinnon became pastor.
Church of the Holy Name