St. John's anglican Church, St. Eleanor's, PEI

St. John's Anglican Church

The first church building was built in 1825 but was destroyed by fire on November 22, 1835. Rebuilding was started in 1838 & the outside was finished by 1841. (Memories, a Historic View of St. Eleanor's 1747-1995 by Juanita S. Bryson & Deborah E. Taylor.)

Several years ago when my mother was transcribing my ggg-grandfather Robert Ellis' daybooks she found many references to St. Eleanor's church. It was obvious that Robert had worked on the inside of the church. Some of the entries were just working a day here & there, but on one page was a lengthy passage concerning the finishing of the inside of the church.The interior has been modified many times, even in Robert's lifetime. The staircase was a one time enclosed behind a wall, but has since been restored.

New Photos of St.John's Anglican Church, St. Eleanor's, PEI

From Robert Ellis' Daybook:
Specification for work Required to be done towards finishing the Episcopal Church at St. Eleanors [St. John's Anglican]

To Make & fix,d a Neat pannelled front to the Gallery extending a crofs the building of good pine the frame work not to be lefs then 1 3/4 inch thick when finish.d To be plain on the inside & a Neat Moulding round each pannell & a astragal planted on or the pannell to be raised as may be prefered on the outside, To have a broad cap & moulding on the top & a neat Cornice below on the front of the Gallery beam. at the bottom.

To Make and fix.d a Stout six pannelled door. Moulding on both sides. with a good knob handle Lock. & hinges. Complete for the gallery.

To Make and finish completely a Staircase in the Tower with turned Newels & plain Balusters the steps to be of 1 1/4 inch thick clear spruce & the risers inch do. Mitred to plain cut bracketts with hollow Mouldings under the Noseing. & returned Over the bracket the hand rail to be of good Birch with a Neat round cap. At the bottom & [R?]amps at the Newels &c and to be returned round the head of the Stairs on the landing.

To Make and fix,d Twenty four single and two double pews as shewn in the plan with doors and seats caps &c complete. The backs to be Pannelled with squre framing not lefs then 1 ½ inch thick when finished The doors & Elbows and fronts that is all next the Aisle and Comm-union Rail &c to be pannelled with Mouldings and Astragals on the pannels or Raise pannels as Specified for the front of the Gallery. And to have a good Spring latch to each pew.

To Make & fix two pulpits. or pulpit and Reading desk alike, Octagonal on the plan & framed One pannel on each side, with Neat Cornice and book board on the top and a Neat bold Moulding Round the bottom, supported by a stout Column to each and fastened to the wall at the back. The pannels to be Moulded Round with Astrg[u?]l &c. as Specified above. the steps to the pulpit and desk to be Made like the Stairs in the Tower. Only much lighter with hard wood. Rail. Ramps &c with a scroll-- At the Bottom of each adiditional [sic] or instead of Newell and Cap as specified for the Other Staircase

To Make a Neat hardwood communion table with turned legs Much stouter then for a Common table of such pattern as may be directed by the Commitee. Also a straight communion Rail of hardwood (Birch) with turned hardwood balusters all very stout and neatly polished, to rest on the soft wood kneeling board with a softwood riser on each side unlefs the floor of the Chancel be raised One step higher then the floor. of the body of the church. the kneeling board to be from 10 to 12 inches broad exclusive of the part on which the balusters are to be fixed. part of the Rail to be made to open with a strong neat hinges, on the inside for pafsage to the Communion table All the work to be neatly and substantially done according to the foregoing Specification and Annexed plan including seats to the Pews pulpit. Desk. and front of the Pews as shown on the plan with every thing. Required to complete the whole of the Aforesaid work including all Mateirals,[sic] according to the true intent and maining [sic] of this Specification and as set forth in the annexed plan in a Neat Substantial and workmanlike Manner-

Charlottetown January 10th 1842

NB All the wood to be good pine except the spruce steps &c and hardwood rails &c specified above.

Other entries include:

Pg. 31, Decr 4th 1841, Self 1 day repairing Glass in Sashes St. Eleanors Church. Used 14 Panes of 8 by 10 Glass had of J. Wellen

Pg. 32, 5 Jany 1842, Self & Hannah went to Ch.town Return on the 7th Brought Stove for St. Eleanors Chuch Bought of Mr. Purdies @ £4/10 = 2 ft. 6

Pg. 34, 15th Apr 1842, G. Darby & Alexr. Kanada To. Making & fixing a seat in St. Eleanors Church 30s Half to be charged to each

Pg. 35, 18 Jun 1842, Made & fixed 2 seats in St. Eleanors Church One for Mr. Cambrage 40s, one for Mr. Morris 4s Circular Front

Pg. 36, 25 June 1842, Finishd Communion Table for St. Eleanors Church.

Pg. 36, 15 & 16 July 1842, 2 Days fixing Communion Rail in St. Eleanors Church. UsdPr. Hinges & screws.

Pg. 37, 26 & 27 August 1842, 2 days at St. Eleanors Church fixing Desk and Stairs To Do [ditto].

Pg. 40, 20 Oct 1842, Had 22 Bushells of Potatoes from Geo. Stanlake. On A/C of work done at St. Eleanors Church. Settled Jany 17. R.E.

Pg. 41, Novr 12th 1842, ½ day St. Eleanors Church Sto[p?]ing Windows in Tower. Made Trap Door. in Ceiling. Do. Repaird Glafs in North Sashes, & Fixing Stove Pipe.

Pg. 41, Decr 8th 1842, Rec'd of Dr. Wiggings two pounds cash on A/c of St. Eleanors Church.

Pg. 42, Jany 17th, 1843, Received the sum of £8/5/0 cash on A/C of St. Eleanors Church. Due on produce £1/18/0.

Pg. 43, March 17-18, 1843, 2 Days Fixing own seat in St. Eleanors Church & Finished Mr. Cambridge Do.

Pg. 43, Apl 1, 1843, Finished own Seat in St. Eleanors Church.

Pg. 44, 21 June 1843, Went at St. Eleanors Church Made Communion Table Smaller 5s.

Pg. 57, 9th March 1845, Sunday, John Tanton was at St. Eleanors Church twice to day!!!

Pg. 65, 14.15th Septr 1846, 5 Days Church [St. Eleanors] Altering Pulpit, Desk, Comminio Rail. Raise the Floor 14 Inches £3 As Pr Agreement.

Pg. 65, 29.30 Sept, 1.2.3rd Octr 1846, 5 Days St. Eleanors Church Finishing Window in the Communion @ 7s Pr day, 1 lbs Nails 1s.

Pg. 65, 18.19.20 Jan 1847, Finishing Four Windows in St. Eleanors Church @ 20s Made & fix Base Moulding Round Nails Chancel 12s

Pg. 67, 24 March 1847, Made two Stools & covered them For Chancel St. Eleanors Church @ 4d---8d.

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