Island, and St. Peter’s in particular.

While visiting the Island the Bishop participated in a number of firsts for the Church, including the official opening of St. Peter’s on August 22nd. In addition, he conducted the first service of Confirmation at the new Church on September 12th. William Critchlow Harris, later to become prominently associated with St. Peter’s Cathedral as architect of All Souls Chapel, was a member of that first class confirmed. The Harris family was one of the founding families of St. Peters. During the Bishop’s visit, the church also had its first funeral, on August 27th, held for Franklin Fay Macgowan. The very next day Prince Arthur, son of Queen Victoria the Monarch of the Island Colony, who was in Charlottetown at the time, attended a Service at St. Paul’s

Parish Church.

Two years later Bishop Binney returned to the Island to conduct services of Confirmation at St. Peter’s in August of 1871. He was back at St. Peter’s to consecrate the Burial Grounds belonging to the Church, located on St. Peter’s Road, on Sunday November 12th . The Cemetery, which adjoined the old Roman Catholic Burial Grounds, was reported in The Examiner as being tastefully laid out. Later that evening Bishop Binney attended a 7 pm. service and delivered an address in which he alluded to the state of the Cemetery on Malpeque Road. His address focused on the respect due the Cross, and commended the advantages of a Christian Education. Confirmation followed, and several members of the congregation were confirmed. The newspaper reported the "The singing was very fine accompanied by Mr. William DesBrisay on the organ who managed it masterfully. After the close of the service the Congregation presented Bishop Binney with a valuable Episcopal ring and an Address."80

Attacks against Anglo-Catholic Practices.

In the early days of St. Peter’s members of the congregation were subject to various forms of petty prejudices and persecutions, some of them quite hostile but others done with a sense of humour. They were often called ‘Puseyites’ a term coined from one of the leaders of the Tractarian Movement within the Church of England. The term was supposed to reflect the opinion that those referred to were not ‘real’ members of the Church of England.

Some of the ritual and ceremonial customs reintroduced into the Church after a long absence aroused outbursts of criticism from individuals not accustomed to these changes. For example, the choir of men and boys vested

80. The Examiner. November 13th, 1871.

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