From 1816 to 1839, the Methodist congregation in the Burgeo area was ministered by the Fortune Bay mission, headquartered at Grand Bank. In 1839, Burgeo came under the jurisdiction of the Western Shore mission, which consisted of 52 harbours and coves with headquarters at Hermitage. Rev. William Marshall was appointed visiting missionary to the area and, in 1841, reportedly "preached in open air to a congregation too large to meet in any one house." Burgeo was described as the largest Protestant settlement on the shore at that time. From 1843 to1880, Burgeo came under the jurisdiction of the Grand Bank mission.
In 1880, Burgeo became a separate mission in the Burin District of the Methodist Church of Canada, Newfoundland Conference. Charles Myers served as the first pastor, and his charge consisted of congregations in East and West Burgeo, Ramea, and nearby communities and coves. The first Methodist church was built in Burgeo in 1882 during the pastorate of Henry Abraham. A new church was dedicated in 1924 during the pastorate of Rev. H. R. Bursey.
In 1925, the mission became part of the United Church of Canada. Rev. W. A. March served as first pastor following Church Union, with congregations in Burgeo, Ramea, and Otters Point. In 1961, the pastoral charges of Burgeo and Petites-Grand Bruit united to form the Burgeo- Petites Pastoral Charge under the ministry of Rev. Joseph Burke. The boundaries of the charge were expanded to include congregations in Burgeo, Grand Bruit, La Poile, Ramea, and West Point. In 1967, the charge was subdivided into two ministries: Burgeo Pastoral Charge, which included Ramea and Grand Bruit; and Channel Pastoral Charge, which included Petites. Currently, the Burgeo Pastoral Charge is made up of congregations in Burgeo and Grand Bruit.
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Title based on content of fonds.
Fonds consists of records relating to the functional bodies of the Charge which include various boards, committees, organizations and groups. Included are vital statistics, accounts and published material.
The records are arranged in the following series: Series 1.0 Baptism, Marriage, and Burial registers (1885-1958); Series 2.0 Funds, congregational financial records (1963-1982); Series 3.0 Correspondence (1966); and Series 4.0 Publications (1971).
Some of the records that comprise this fonds do not appear to have been created in the course of the charge's practical activities, but collected around the theme of the charge.
The records remained in the charge until 1987 when they were deposited in the Conference archives.
Other records relating to the Burgeo Pastoral Charge are found in the Channel Pastoral Charge fonds, and St. George's Pastoral Charge fonds. Rev. Joseph Burke fonds contains historical information regarding the Charge.
Researchers are required to use photocopies of vital statistics records. Originals are allowed to be used only at the discretion of the archivist.
Archives inventory list.
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Series consists of financial statements and correspondence for 1963-1964, and financial statements for 1976 and 1982.
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Series consists of vital statistics registers, and are arranged in three volumes as follows: register of burials, 1885-1958; baptisms, 1880-1959; and marriages, 1888-1959.
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Series consists of correspondence between conference archives and the pastoral charge regarding archival records and pastoral charge history.
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Series includes publications and newspaper clippings regarding local church history including A Short History of Faith United Church, Burgeo, by Joseph Burke, and Hartley Kendall, 1971.