HISTORY COMMITTEE‘S FOREWORD

This souvenir book has been put together to help us celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the building of the first church in Hope River in

1843. The Pastor at Rustico was responsible for a large area which took in

Hope River. The Pastor was also the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Bernard D. MacDonald. He came to the little church in Hope River only

three times a year. Bishop MacDonald acquired land at the site where the church is

now situated, and built a parish house on this land. After several years, the church was moved from Hope River to St. Ann’s. The pioneer ceme— tery still exists at the original site in Hope River and in 1981 a monument was erected at the site. The church that was moved to St. Ann's was the second church to be built and was also thirty feet by thirty feet; the same as the first church which had blown down in a big wind in the Fall of 1843.

It is believed to have been turned into St. Ann's School when a larg- er church was built in 1864. This building is now the home of Pauline and Vincent Doiron and is situated a few hundred yards from the Church.

Because of fires, new construction and difficulties in construction, the parish is now using the fourth parish house and the seventh church.

With the addition of one hundred families, mostly of Acadian descent, from the parish of St. Augustine's, South Rustico, in 1872 the parish became established as St. Ann's Parish with the first resident Pastor, Fr. Azade Trudelle in 1873.

We trust you will find our souvenir book interesting and informa- tive. We regret any errors or omissions we may have made.

Front cover photo, present church. Back cover photo, present parish house.