Tradition affirms that Mr. Chappell was accustomed to con- ducting services in this village, where he resided for several years, from a projecting rock on the bluff—head, known as “Chappell’s Chair”. Under the date March, 1775, he refers to this spot, in his diary, as his “Elysian Seat”.

Practically nothing except the diary remains in writing of this early period, but a scrap of a letter from Mr. Chappell, dated October, 1775, and addressed to Mr. “C” of Newcastle reads:

“From the Island of St. John, (RBI) in the Gulf of St. Law- rence.” It concludes . . . .“For my own part, we hope to labour, working with our hands the thing that is right, for hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and to read our Bibles to good purpose, till we rest from our labours”.

In the spring of 1775, Mr. and Mrs. Chappell were in doubt as to whether they should move from the Island but on June 9th, 1775, he records that “they concluded to remain and trust in God”. They moved to Charlottetown in October, 1778 and soon began to take an active part in the religious activities in the little capital. A note, still preserved, written in December of that same year reads as follows: “Mrs. Richardson presents compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Chappell and begs the favor to know if Mr. Chappell reads prayers this evening, and at what time, as she would be happy to attend”.

These prayer meetings were held in Mr. Chappell’s own house, which stood near the Northwest corner of Prince and Water Streets. It was also the first Post Office as Mr. Chappell was the Postmaster for the Island. Under the date of October 20th, 1783, the Rev. William Black of Nova Scotia, made the following entry in his journal:

“I set off for the Island of St. John’s at the earnest and repeated request of Mr. Benjamin Chappell, where I arrived on October 22nd (1783) and tarried about a fortnight. I preached several times at Charlottetown and St. Peter’s but alas, the people in general appeared altogether ignorant of the nature of true religion and of that faith which worketh by love”. This was the first recorded visit of a Methodist minister to the Island.

At the close of the American War, when a large number of Loyalists came to the Island from the United States, a Methodist Society was formed which met at Mr. Chappell’s house. In the spring of 1792, the Rev. William Grandin, who was stationed in Nova Scotia, made a visit to Prince Edward Island and the record states that “he held some services in Charlottetown and at Tryon, as the result of which an extensive revival took place”. Mr. Wright of Tryon and his wife were numbered among his converts.

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