By 1824 it had become apparent that the Government of Prince Edward Island, as set up in 1786, was for all intents and purposes a sovereign body. This was reflected in the Letters Patent of Bishop John Inglis:

And whereas our Province of New Brunswick and our Islands of Prince Edward, of Newfoundland and the Bermudas in North America are not yet divided or formed into a separate Diocese or Bishop’s See and it is deemed expedient by us that the Episcopal functions should be performed and the spiritual should from henceforth be administered and executed in the said Province and Islands according to the Laws and Canons of the Church of England which are lawfully made and received in England, it is our royal will and pleasure and we do by these presents give and grant to the said John Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia and its dependencies during our will and pleasure and no longer and to his successors during our will and pleasure and until we shall be pleased to revoke the same and make other disposition thereon full power and authority by himself and his sufficient Commissary or Commissaries to be by him substituted or appointed to exercise Jurisdiction Spiritual and Ecclesiastical and all and singular the functions and authorities within our Province of New Brunswick and our Islands of Prince Edward, of Newfoundland and of the Bermudas and their dependencies which may be lawfully exercised by himself of his Commissary or Commissaries within the Province and Diocese of Nova Scotia and its dependencies by virtue of the powers contained in those presents. And we will that all clauses, matters and things contained herein shall so far as the same are applicable be applied to the jurisdiction and functions of the Bishop of Nova Scotia and its dependencies in regard to the said Province of New Brunswick and the Islands of Prince Edward, of Newfoundland and the Bermudas and their dependencies...69

These Letters Patent are very explicit in stating that the Province of Nova Scotia and the Diocese of Nova Scotia were one in the same. They are also very explicit in stating that Prince Edward Island was a separate unit only under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Nova Scotia. P.E.I. was in no way constituted as an integral part of the Diocese of Nova Scotia in these Letters Patent.

By a supplementary Commission the areas under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Nova Scotia were divided into four Archdeaconries: Nova Scotia, N eW Brunswick, Bermuda, and Newfoundland. Prince Edward Island was passed over probably because at that time there were only two clergymen of the church of England on the island in charge of parishes. It was not until 1860 that an Archdeacon was appointed for the island by Bishop Hibbert Binney.

69. Letters Patent of Bishop John Inglis, March 27th, 1825. Letters Patent Roll, British Museum, Manuscript Room, London.

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