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Ryan Brothers Ltd, a Newfoundland mercantile firm, was established in Trinity in 1906, but it was part of a family business which had originated in Bonavista in 1869. It was owned initially in half-shares by James and Daniel Ryan, sons of Michael and Ellen (Fleming) Ryan of Bonavista.

In 1869, James Ryan (1841-1917), with the help of his father, purchased a mercantile property at Bonavista owned by the Keen family. This property became the main premises of a firm that always went by the name James Ryan, but which employed several of his brothers. In 1874, the Ryans opened another establishment at King's Cove by purchasing premises formerly owned by James McBraire. The King's Cove branch was initially called James & D.A. Ryan, but soon became styled James Ryan & Co. and later Daniel Ryan & Co. Daniel A. Ryan became the resident manager of the King's Cove branch which was Ryans' main base for supplying the Labrador cod fishery.

The Ryan brothers also expanded their supply trade on the coast of Labrador. They established branch stores at Batteau Island and Webbers Harbour and built a whaling factory at Hawke Harbour. In 1906 the Ryans purchased the vacant Garland premises (formerly the Lester premises) previously leased to Robinson Brooking & Co and Grieve & Bremner in Trinity Harbour. This facility provided them with warehouses and stores to supply the Labrador fishery and ample space for the storage, handling and shipment of fish to St. John's and overseas, in a spacious and well-sheltered harbour.

Edmund J. Ryan, the youngest of seven Ryan Brothers, formerly a bookkeeper at King's Cove and manager of Ryan branches in Labrador, was installed as resident manger of Ryan Brothers Ltd. in Trinity. He was assisted by a nephew, Walter N. White, who worked as an accountant. Trinity immediately became the main supply and trans-shipment base for the Ryans, not only for Labrador fish but also for fish procured by the Bonavista and King's Cove branches. Ryan Brothers also became the largest mercantile firm in the local share fishery of Trinity Bay. When they added Ryan Brothers Ltd. to their business, James and Daniel Ryan possessed the largest mercantile operation outside St. John's. In peak years, they exported over 100,000 quintals of fish, upwards of 10 percent of the total Newfoundland production.

When James Ryan died in 1917, his half of Ryan Brothers Ltd. was left in trust to his two sons, James and Herbert. When Daniel died in 1934, he willed his half share in one-third proportions each to his brother, his nephew Walter N. White, and son-in-law Frederick W. Ottenheimer. Ryan Brothers was reincorporated in 1936 under this new ownership structure and remained this way until the firm was liquidated in 1952.

Ryan Brothers declined in trade with the decline of the Labrador fishery and the salt cod trade generally. In its last four years, the firm operated only a general store mainly on a cash basis.

Immaculate Conception Parish was established in 1934 and included the communities of Brigus South, Admiral's Cove and Cape Broyle. Prior to this date these communities were part of Holy Trinity Parish. Immaculate Conception Parish did not always have a resident priest and was frequently administered by the parish priest in Ferryland. In 1998, Immaculate Conception Parish was canonically suppressed, along with Holy Trinity Parish (Ferryland) and Holy Apostles Parish (Renews). The communities of these parishes, from Brigus South to Cappahayden, formed the new Holy Family Parish.

The first church in Cape Broyle was constructed circa 1816. It was a small chapel that was built in the middle of the old cemetery. A man named Edward Burgess built the church and Bishop Lambert laid the corner stone. This church was taken down in 1849 and a second one built in the 1850s. In 1894, this church was also removed a third church was built in 1872 by Bishop Michael Howley. The current church was built between 1946-1947 by Rev. Michael Kennedy. The church that was built by Howley was turned into the Community Centre.

The small chapels at Admiral's Cove and Brigus South were also built under the direction of Rev. Kennedy. In 1951, Rev. Kennedy completed the church at Brigus South that Rev. A. Maher had started thirty-one years ago. As well, in 1964, the church at Brigus South was blessed and titled The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A new church was built at Admiral's Cove in 1955 and was called The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Brigus South had it's first school established in 1844 but it closed in 1848 with the notion of saving money for repairs or to build a new school. The school was opened again in 1855 but it was in a rented house which the school board bought in 1859.

The first school in Admiral's Cove opened around 1866 and was in a shed that had been converted into a school-house. The school closed in 1870 but was re-opened by 1883. Admiral's Cove go a new school built in 1904.

Both the Brigus South and Admiral's Cove schools were phased out with the consolidation of schools in the late 1960's. The primary and elementary children were then bussed to the school in Cape Broyle and the high school students went to Baltimore Regional High School in Ferryland.

An 1984 article from the Monitor, written by a parishioner, says that the biggest organization in their parish was the Parish Council which was made up of about fourteen members. This Council was responsible for the activities of the parish. Aside from the council, there was also an altar society that played an active part in the church; extraordinary ministers; readers; collectors; altar boys; a choir, and, at that time, a 200th anniversary committee. As well, the article mentions that there was a bingo committee which governed six smaller bingo committees and a committee for regular weekly card games that was ran by all the women in the parish with small groups responsible for each game. The senior citizens were also organized and held their own functions. Correspondence in the fonds also mentions the Holy Name Society and a "Ways and Means Committee" that looked after such things as raising funds for a parish centre.

The parish priests who served Immaculate Conception Parish are Rev. Michael Kennedy (1934-1968), Rev. Hubert Whelan (1969-1971), and Rev. D. P. Murphy (1971-1973). As well, Immaculate Conception Parish had the following administrator's: Rev. John Corrigan (1973-[1977?]); Rev. Dermot McGettigan (1982-1983); Rev. Edward Sutton (1983-1985); Rev. John McGettigan (1990-1996); and Rev. Paul Lundrigan (1996-1998).

The Haystack Reunion Committee was established in October 1995 at a meeting held in Come by Chance, Newfoundland. It consisted of 22 former residents of Haystack, a community on the northeastern side of Long Island, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. Haystack was largely abandoned in the 1950s, although one resident lived there until 1969.

The objective of the Reunion Committee was to organize a reunion of former residents and their descendants in the summer of 1997 on the site of the former community. In addition to site preparation for the reunion, the reunion booklet, the cemetery restoration project, and the launching of a web site, the committee organized a second reunion in 2003.

St. Patrick's Parish originated in its founding to Bishop John Thomas Mullock's purchase of a piece of land at Riverhead (old West End of St. John's), in 1852, on which he intended to build a church, school, and convent to serve the spiritual and educational needs of the area. However, the evolution of the parish was slow, extending over a period of several years. The foundation stone for the parish church was first laid in 1855 in connection with the celebrations surrounding the consecration of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. However, construction did not proceed after this ceremony, although St. Patrick's Convent was established at Riverhead the following year for members of the Presentation of the Most Blessed Virgin Congregation (Presentation Sisters). It has been suggested that a lack of funding and skilled manpower were to blame for the delay in the construction of the parish church. In any case, a provisional wooden church was erected on the present site of the Deanery (September of 1860), to service the needs of the parishioners until the church proper was completed. On 26 June 1864, Bishop Mullock laid the cornerstone (as distinct from the foundation stone) of the present-day church. However, progress on the structure was sporadic. It was finally opened for public worship and consecrated on 28 August 1881.

Under the denominational education system, the Presentation Sisters and the Irish Christian Brothers were active in the parish as administrators of St. Patrick's Convent and Holy Cross schools (these institutions are still in operation today, but are no longer run by religious congregations and are now co-educational). St. Clare's Mercy Hospital also exists within the boundaries of St. Patrick's, and the parish clergy are responsible for its ministry.

St. Patrick's established a Parish Council in 1975 and, in cooperation with the Pastor, it plays a leading role in determining policy for the Parish, including the approval of budgetary expenditures and renovations. In addition to the Parish Council, numerous lay societies play a part in the administration of parish activities. Societies that have been or still are active within the parish, include the Holy Name Society, the St. Anne's Sodality, the Legion of Mary, the Women's and the Men's Committees, the Youth Group, the Altar Boys' Society, the Children of Mary, the Christian Doctrine Society, the League of the Sacred Heart, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Women's League (this list is not exhaustive). All societies are required to report to the Parish Council as the principal body responsible for co-ordinating parish affairs.

At the time of its founding, the parish's boundaries encompassed the West End of St. John's, then known as Riverhead. Although the boundaries have been altered over time with the establishment of additional parishes in St. John's, St. Patrick's still takes in most of the old West End of the city.

Due to insufficient documentation, it is difficult to identify the priests who attended to the needs of the parish in its earliest years of operation. Michael Walsh, Thomas Coady, William Walsh, John Conway, and John Scott were associated with St. Patrick's Parish before 1873. Pastors who have served St. Patrick's Parish since 1873 include: John Ryan (1873-1908?); J. J. McDermot (1909-1915); Henry T. Renouf (1915-1920); William Kitchen (1920-1932); Thomas J. Flynn (1932-1945); Ronald McDermot Murphy (1945-1970); Charles K. Greene (1970-1973); William K. Lawton (1973-1977); David P. Morrissey (1977-1984); and James Doody (1984- ).

St. Joseph's, located in the East End of St. John's, was established on 14 August 1907 by Archbishop Michael F. Howley. His appointment of Rev. William Kitchen to St. Joseph's reflects a certain ambiguity as to its exact status upon its founding: "I hereby Appoint [sic] you Administrator of [the] Parish or Mission of St. Joseph's.... The Mission remains attached to and dependent on the Cathedral Parish.... You however have all the faculties and obligations of a Parish priest" (Letter from Michael F. Howley to William Kitchen, 4 Sept. 1907). This ambiguity of status may be explained by the lack of a parish church and presbytery within the boundaries of the new juridical entity. Initially, mass was held in St. Bridget's, a small school-chapel operated by the Sisters of Mercy, and the pastor resided outside of St. Joseph's boundaries in the Cathedral Residence. It is unclear when St. Joseph's ceased to be a quasi-mission and was recognized as an independent parish within the Archdiocese of St. John's. This elevation probably occurred sometime after the consecration of the new parish church.

The foundation stone of the first parish church was laid by Archbishop Edward P. Roche on 19 November 1916. It was opened for worship the following year (dedicated on 18 November 1917), replacing the old school-chapel. In 1918, a new school building, administered by the Sisters of Mercy, was erected on Signal Hill, and in 1922, St. Joseph's Convent also opened on Signal Hill, giving the Sisters of Mercy a resident presence in the parish and completing the parochial organization of St. Joseph's.

Over time, the size of the original parish church proved to be inadequate and a new church was constructed in 1954 on Quidi Vidi Road, blessed and dedicated by Archbishop Patrick J. Skinner on 8 December 1954. The original church was then converted into a boys' school. St. Joseph's School underwent various stages of expansion and co-educational integration, eventually resulting in three separate buildings accommodating grades one to nine on Quidi Vidi Road. The school was closed as a result of denominational education reforms passed by the Provincial Government in 1997.

Following the reforms of Vatican II, a Parish Council was established in 1971 comprised of 12 elected members plus school, youth, and parish pastoral representatives. Other bodies that have been active within the parish include the St. Joseph's Committee, the St. Joseph's Institute, the St. Roch's Club, the Building Committee, the Sponsoring Committee, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Men's Committee, the St. Anne's Sodality, the Holy Name Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Women's League, the St. Joseph's Youth Group, the Junior League of Mary, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides (this list is not exhaustive).

Located in Hoylestown, the parish boundaries originally extended from Pleasantville to Duckworth Street, including Quidi Vidi Village and the Battery. In 1998, due to a decline in the Roman Catholic population of the area, St. Joseph's Parish was suppressed and its boundaries absorbed by the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Parish. The final mass was held on 21 February 1998.

Pastors who have served St. Joseph's Parish since its establishment include: [C. H.] O'Neil (1907); William Kitchen (1907-1921?); Joseph Pippy (1921-1937); Francis J. D. Ryan (1937-1952); E. P. Maher (1952-1961); J. J. Murray (1962-1982); James L. Doody (1982-1984); David Morrissey (1986?-1988?); John McGettigan (1988?-1990?); William Lawton (1992?-1994?); and Joseph Barton (1994?-1998?).

Hawes and Company (London) Ltd. was incorporated in 1922 as an agency and brokerage company for the sale of Newfoundland salt fish in European markets. Its function was assumed by the Newfoundland Associated Fish Exporters Limited (NAFEL) in 1947.

The mandate of Hawes and Co. was to act as agent for Newfoundland salt fish exports, financing shipments of fish, managing the banking end of the trade, and centralizing market statistics. Hawes and Co. signed contracts with Newfoundland fish exporters which gave the company the exclusive right to sell, market and handle all salt fish exported from Newfoundland to any European country. As agent, the company was delegated responsibility to investigate, settle, and deal with all claims, rejections or disputes arising from sales made by shippers to the European markets.

Hawes and Co. began marketing Newfoundland fish in 1919 when it was granted a franchise to deal with Italian buyers. George Hawes, a principal in the company, was requested by a group of Newfoundland exporters to establish an organization for marketing fish in other European markets, modeled on an organization which marketed fish in Spain. In 1922, Hawes and Co.(London) Ltd. was established to deal with all the European markets.

In 1926, Hawes Newfoundland Limited was established, but it was dissolved in 1932. Until 1947, Hawes conducted business in Newfoundland through agent George Lewis, as a branch of Hawes and Co. (London) Ltd. In 1947, the Newfoundland Association of Fish Exporters Limited (NAFEL) became the central marketing agency for salt cod, replacing Hawes and C. (London) Ltd.

Constables were first appointed at Trinity in 1729 to assist the magistrate in keeping the peace. The Newfoundland Constabulary was established in 1871 and thereafter a member of the force was stationed at Trinity. The constable was responsible for the area from English Harbour to Popes Harbour including Ireland’s Eye. The last resident constable at Trinity was Constable John Baggs. After confederation with Canada the duties of the constabulary were assumed by the RCMP. The offices of the constabulary and the gaol were in the Court House. The constable occupied an apartment on the second and third floors.

The Flat Islands Mission was created in 1873 in the Newfoundland District of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of Eastern British America. Rev. Thomas H. James became its first pastor in 1875. Its appointments were Flat Islands, Oderin, Harbour Buffett, Woody Island, Sound Island, Mortier Bay, and Rock Harbour.

Before this, Port Elizabeth had been a congregation in the Burin Methodist Mission, with some 20 Protestant families living in the community by 1853. In the late 1870s, the mission was expanded to include the Sound Island Mission. This composite mission lasted until 1883, when the two parts were separated. In 1892, Oderin (Gallows Harbour) and Paradise were added to the communities ministered by Flat Islands. At the time of Church Union in 1925, the mission was made up of Flat Islands, Hay Cove, Boat Harbour, and Baine Harbour.

In 1970, the Port Elizabeth Pastoral Charge consisted of appointments of Boat Harbour, Baine Harbour, Red Harbour, and Little Bay East. In 1969, the people on the island resettled, and the pastoral charge moved its headquarters to Little Bay East.

Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1923, when Assumption Parish (St. Mary's) was reorganized. The parish included the communities of of St. Vincent's, Middle Gut (later renamed St. Stephen's), and Peter's River.

The first parish priest, Rev. George W. Battock, was appointed in 1923 and he remained in the parish until 1970. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Cooper. However, the parish priest at Assumption Parish later assumed the duties of administrator for Sacred Heart Parish, although the parishes retained separate records and administrative structures.

Under the first parish priest, Rev. Battcock, a new school, community hall, rectory, and church was constructed in St. Vincent's. A new church, St. Anne's, was built at Peter's River in 1927 and a new school was opened between Peter's River and St. Stephen's. In 1962 the Presentation Sisters established a convent in St. Vincent's and commenced teaching in the local school.