United Church of Canada. Pool's Cove Pastoral Charge

The Pool's Cove Pastoral Charge was formed in 1941 as a pastoral charge in the Newfoundland Conference of the United Church of Canada. It was a successor body to the Congregationalist Mission of Fortune Bay.

In 1874, during the ministry of Rev. Thomas Hall in Newfoundland, the Congregational Colonial Missionary Society in London established the Fortune Bay Mission. Pool's Cove became the headquarters for the mission, and churches were established in Pool's Cove and Bay du Nord. The first minister appointed to the area , Rev. J. B. Saer, ministered to many families scattered along the south coast in Fortune Bay as well as in Placentia Bay. In Fortune Bay itself, congregations were spread from the Little Bay East area on the eastern side to the Belloram area on the western side. Communities mentioned in early registers included Little Bay East, Anderson's Cove, Conne, Fomme, Lake's Cove, Grand La Pierre, Harbour Mille, Bay du Nord, Pool's Cove, and Belloram. The first church in Little Bay East was built under the leadership of Rev. James Middleton in 1910.

The Congregationalist Mission at Pool's Cove resisted the Church Union of 1925 and amalgamation with the Presbyterians, remaining independent until it became part of the United Church of Canada in 1941.

The first United Church representative appointed to the mission was Mr. J. S. Moran (lay supply) who ministered to congregations in Pool's Cove, Anderson's Cove, and Little Bay East. The boundaries of the pastoral charge remained the same until 1970, when, after the resettlement of Anderson's Cove, Pool's Cove and Little Bay East came under the Port Elizabeth Pastoral Charge. In 1972, they came under the Red Harbour Pastoral Charge. In 1975, Little Bay East was incorporated into the Creston-Red Harbour Pastoral Charge, leaving Pool's Cove to once again form the Pool's Cove Pastoral Charge.

Created - May 11, 2013

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