United Church of Canada. St. George's Pastoral Charge.

Methodism in St. George's Bay dates back to at least the 1860s, for in 1867, it was reported that Methodists had settled at South Side (St. George's) and were holding "cottage services" there. The St. George's Mission was created in 1883 in the Burin District of the Methodist Church of Canada, Newfoundland Conference. Its first pastor was Rev. William Rex, who found, upon his arrival, a church with about 20 members and a Mr. A. Cutler acting as a lay reader.

The present-day pastoral charge includes churches in St. George's, Heatherton, and Stephenville. However, the boundaries of the earlier mission changed frequently as St. George's became associated with the Bay of Islands (1886-1902) and other times with Channel (St. George's was part of Channel mission in 1861). The boundaries of the first mission went from Robinson's Head to Boswarlos. In 1873, Bonne Bay was listed as being part of the mission, and in 1886 an agreement was made for the minister stationed at St. George's to spend 6 months at St. George's, and 6 months at Bay of Islands.

The first church in St. George's was opened in 1878. A new structure was built in 1938, and another in 1974. A church was also erected at Sandy Point in 1883-1884. Rev. J. T. Newman reported in 1891 that a school-chapel was being constructed at Boswarlos. The first church opened there in 1909 and was replaced by another in 1961. An 1892 report from Heatherton stated that a house had been purchased there for use as a parsonage. A school-chapel was opened there in 1909, and a new church, in 1955. The Heatherton church was replaced with a new structure in 1981. In 1949, United Church services began in Stephenville with a congregation of 46, and in 1957, a new church was opened there.

Created - April 25, 2013

• Engels