Fonds - Grand Bank Pastoral Charge fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Grand Bank Pastoral Charge fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on contents of fonds

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Fonds

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1817-1996 (Creation)
    Creator
    United Church of Canada. Grand Bank Pastoral Charge

Physical description area

Physical description

50 cm of textual records

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1816-)

Administrative history

Grand Bank became the headquarters for the Fortune Bay Methodist Mission in the Newfoundland District of the British Wesleyan Conference in 1816. The mission embraced all points from Lamaline to Port aux Basques. Rev. Richard Knight was appointed the first missionary there, and in his two-year term, he "formed classses in both Grand Bank and Fortune."

Evidence of the places ministered by the early Fortune Bay missionaries is anecdotal and sporadic. In a report to the missionary committee in 1819, for example, Rev. John Haigh, Knight's successor noted that he had visited Harbor Briton, Jersey Harbour, and Little Bay. In 1827, another minister reported visiting Gaultos and Bay D'Espoir, and from 1827 to 1830, ministers wrote of ministering to Frenchman's Cove, Harbour Breton, Jersey Harbour, Grand Beach, Lamaline, St. Jacques, and Round Harbour.

The first chapel in Grand Bank was built in 1817. It was replaced with a new structure in 1846 that could seat about 400 people. The old chapel was converted for use as a day school, Sunday school, and hall for social service. In 1876, a new church with a capacity of 1200 replaced the smaller chapel. By 1964, construction had begun on the present day-building, which was opened in 1965.

Various communities were dropped from the visiting roster of Grand Bank missionaries as other missions were established in the area: the Burin Circuit in 1817; Garnish in 1866; Fortune in 1878. Furthermore, Grand Bank was replaced by Hermitage as headquarters for the Fortune Bay Mission in 1840. By 1900, the only community listed in the Grand Bank register outside the main community was Molliers. In 1925, the mission became a Pastoral Charge in the Newfoundland Conference of the United Church of Canada. In 1928, Grand Bank was listed as the only "preaching place" in the charge.

Custodial history

Records remained in the Grand Bank Pastoral Charge until they were turned over to the conference archives sometime after its formation in 1966.

Scope and content

Fonds consist of records relating to the functional bodies of the Charge which include various boards, committees, organizations and groups. Included are vital statistics, minutes, financial records, reports, and publications.

The records are arranged in the following series: 1.0 Baptism, marriage and burial registers, (1849-1961); 2.0 Membership Records [19-]; 3.0 Board and Committee Records (1852-1941); 4.0 Women's Groups Records (1953-1973); 5.0 Sunday School/ Sabbath School Records (1931-1942); 6.0 Correspondence/ Subject Files (1889; 7.0 Church histories [19-]; 8.0 Scrapbooks, 1963-1988; and 9.0 Annual Reports, 1958-1996.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    Researchers are required to use photocopies of vital statistics records. Originals are allowed to be used only at the discretion of the archivist.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Finding aids

    Archives inventory list, 1999

    Associated materials

    Other records relating to Grand Bank Pastoral charge can be found in Bay Roberts Pastoral Charge fonds, Rev Reynolds diary contains baptisms 1939-1949.

    Related materials

    Accruals

    Further accruals are expected.

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    Standard number

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    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    Rules or conventions

    Status

    Draft

    Level of detail

    Partial

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created - May 23, 2013

    Language of description

    • English

    Script of description

      Sources

      Accession area