Celebrating
250 Years of Anglican Worship
in the Parish of Cornwallis
&
the 200th Anniversary of
St. John’s Cornwallis
Port Williams
Kings County, Nova Scotia
June 2010
Spire of St. John’s Cornwallis designed in 1802 by
Colonel John Burbidge, Senior Church Warden
Frontispiece image:
Sketch of St. John’s Fox Hill erected in 1770
drawn and donated by
Twila Robar-Decoste.
Back cover image:
Sketch of front doors of St. John’s Cornwallis from
the wedding invitation of Christa Peill
June 1987.
Printed by
T & S Office Essentials and Printing
778 Main St, Kingston, NS B0P 1R0
902.765.8655 www.tands.ca
Printed and bound in Nova Scotia, Canada
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Murray, Elinor MacAllister, 1939-
On the shoulders of giants : the Parish of Cornwallis, Kings
County, Nova Scotia, 1760-2010 / [Elinor MacAllister Murray].
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-9864821-0-6
1. Parish of Cornwallis (Port Williams, N.S.)--History. 2. St.
John’s Church (Port Williams, N.S.)--History. I. Parish of
Cornwallis (Port Williams, N.S.) II. Title.
BX5617.P67M87 2010 283’.71634 C2010-901596-7
FIRST EDITION June 2010
Copyright © Elinor MacAllister Murray 2010
From 1760 onwards, these men gave largely of their substance in establishing the Anglican Church in Kings County, Nova Scotia. In 1784, satisfied with what had been achieved, they sought and secured a Royal Warrant from King George III to formally organize the ‘Church of St. John in Cornwallis’ and induct their own rector. It is also dedicated as well to the men and women, clergy and laypeople, who succeeded them. For over two centuries they have directed their talents and energies to enlarging on the work of the visionaries who preceded them. All that they have done has been for the greater Glory of God and His people in the Parish of Cornwallis and beyond.
Dear Friends in Christ
It is a delight to greet you as you celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Parish of St. John’s, Cornwallis. It is a time to remember our forebears in the faith, to give thanks for their labours in building this house dedicated to the Ministry of God’s Holy Word and Sacraments. The building is kept so beautifully. Its open doors invite us into worship.
“O go your way into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise,
be thankful unto him, and speak
good of his Name.” (Psalm 100:3)
To enter and to rest, to keep silent and to sing, to ponder and to pray within this place is to know, that, “The Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth from generation to generation.” (Psalm 100:4)
As you celebrate a faithful witness of coming in for worship and going out for service, the whole Church rejoices in “your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippian 1:5)
With prayers for grace upon grace in the ministries to which you are called, now and for ages to come,
250 years and counting…
At the time of an anniversary, it is important to look in two directions – backward and forward.
The Diocesan 2010 Committee challenged each parish to write a parish history or to update their parish history if they have one already. This has been a good project, because we need to know our parish roots, the places from which we have come, and the low and the high points along the way. At 250 years of age, the Parish of Cornwallis has a longer history than many parishes in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
On the Shoulders of Giants covers that history in detail with places and dates and wonderful excerpts from letters and diaries. These excerpts cover both the low and the high points of the history.
At the time of an anniversary, a parish also needs to look forward. What is God calling the parish to be beyond 2010? Where is God calling the parish to go? How will the people of the parish minister to God’s people? How will they serve God’s world?
Often the best way for a parish to move into the future is by being clear about what it does well and building on those strengths. This history will help in this process and thus, start the parish of Cornwallis on its journey into the next 250 years!
