explicitly clear from the time of the Letters Patent issued to Bishop John Inglis in 1824. The rector, Vestry and Churchwardens of St. Paul's Church, Charlottetown recognized that they could not legally attend the Assemblies if they were to be constituted in accordance with the Declaration of Principles approved in 1855. Prince Edward Island was a separate colony possessing its own Provincial laws regulating the Church of England on the Island. Because the Church of England was legally 'established' in the Province of Prince Edward Island by an Act of that Province's Legislature, the Island clergy were outside the legislative authority of the Government of Nova Scotia . They were, therefore, outside the legal stipulations of the constitution and the Declaration of Principles (and later the Act of Incorporation) for the Diocesan Synod . During the annual congregational meeting of St. Paul's Charlottetown in May of 1856 a motion concerning the upcoming Assembly was passed in which it was resolved: that this congregation decline to send delegates or representatives of the laity to attend the Diocesan Assembly or Synod at Halifax and are unwilling, as it is at present constituted, to be governed thereby.4 The motion was passed on the understanding of the congregation that Prince Edward Island was "not part of the See of Nova Scotia proper, so called, being only placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of said diocese during the royal pleasure."5 This set an example followed by the other Island parishes which likewise sent no delegates. The decision taken by the Island Parishes was discussed at the first session of the Diocesan Assembly wherein it was resolved: That in consequence of the difference in the laws affecting the Church in Prince Edward Island and this Province, it is not expedient to include clergy and lay representatives from the Island in this Assembly .6 Although the resolution was passed at the first Diocesan Assembly , it was not confirmed at the second Diocesan Assembly held in Halifax in October of 1858. The other P.E.I , parishes continued to follow the lead of St. Paul's Charlottetown and refused to send delegates to the Assemblies for as long as they continued to operate under the original constitution and regulations 22 Church Times. September 6th, 1856. 23 Ibid. October 25th, 1856. 24 Ibid. 20