Tryon Christian Church

Compiled by Noah Fall for Maritime Christian College, 1994

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*The original record book from Tryon Christian Church is stored in the Maritime Christian College Library display case.*

1870 - 1875 

"CRAWFORD - At Wallace, Idaho, U.5. on the 5th of April last, in his 43rd year, Oro. John J. Crawford. About sixty years ago Bro. Crawford was converted and joined the Baptist church at Tryon, P.E.I., his native home. From his conversion he held the views of the Disciples and when a church was organized thirty years ago he took an active part in it and remained an elder until he left the country a year ago" (The Christian June, 1890)

The above document was published in the June 1890 issue of “The Christian”. According to the above, the Tryon church began thirty years prior to its publication; thus dating the formation of the Disciples church in Tryon in 1870. This date may be questioned, but further information linking 1878 as the year can be found within the public archives in Summerside. In 1978, John Lang deeded the land that the church building was soon built on, to the trustees of the “Christian Church of Tryon": John Lore, William Warren Callbeck, and John James Crawford. 

In the Minutes of the 1878 meeting of the PEI Christian Association which, from this point on, will be referred to as P.C.A., John Crawford is referred to at Deacon, thus again proving the existence af the church in Tryun. The date for the beginning of the church in Tryon is thus set sometime during 1870.

On July 12, 1869, John Crawford of Tryon was added to the Missionary Board; this addition took place at the meeting of the P.C.A. John Crawford way have been involved in a home church before the land was deeded to the church, as he is elected to the above position, prior to the deeding of the land. This position was most likely given to members of the Christian Church fellowship, therefore some variation of a church possibly existed. According to the P.C.A. minutes, in February of 1871, Brother Morrison is said to be a member of the Missionary Board. Brother Morrison is most likely the same Morrison referred to as Elder in the following years. 

In July 1871, Brother Morrison became very active in the Missions Board; he was “authorized to make collections on behalf of this Board, where he may preach and that he report the sum to the board (P.C.A. minutes). As shown, people from Tryon were very active in church life on the Island. In 1872, an offering was taken up for the construction of a house of worship in Tryon, and twenty dollars was raised. The Lord family was involved in the running of a saw mill and would have had ready access to lumber with which the building could be erected; this access would have cut down on the cost of the building project. Also reported at the meeting was the fact that Elder Chase was going to spend some line in Summerside, unless he was able to spend some time with the church at Tryon. Whether or not Elder Chase preached in Tryon is not recorded; if be did go and preach at the Tryon church, he would have been the first recorded to preach for this congregation. 

Within the first five years of the church’s existence: they acquired land, constructed a building and joined with other Island congregations in the work laid before them by God. They have a humble, yet honourable start. No more mention is made of the Tryon church during these five years.

1876 - 1880

In the 1878 meeting of the P.C.A., a report of the church’s membership is given:

Church at Tryon

Present Membership .............................. 41

Removed by death during year .............   1

Reclaimed .................................................   1

By letter .....................................................   1

From Baptists ...........................................   1

By Baptism ...............................................    0

As shown above, the church is reported to have a membership of 41. This number is the highest number of members that the church ever reports having. From this point on, the church continues to decline, and though new members join, the number of people leaving outnumbers those joining. In a written report submitted at the P.C.A.'s July meeting, their membership was recorded at 38 members, and 20 "Lord's Day School" (This is based upon the fact that the thirty members included the 20 “Lord's Day school” attenders). In only two years the membership decreased by eleven: a decline which would prove to continue.

1881 - 1885

The next entry regarding the Tryon church is found in the minutes of P.C.A.'s July 1881 meeting. The church reports that they have lost three people, but have added two to the Sunday School program. One of the three people lost was due to death, and the other two are reported to have been removed. Whether “being removed" means they moved or were asked to leave is not know, but due to the phrasing of the words one is ted to led towards the latter. The 1882 minutes record that the congregation has been decreased to 24 and the contents of their meetings are comprised of meeting to break bread and for Sunday School. They have lost more members but are continuing to meet every Lord’s day. 

The 1883 minutes record that Sunday School and the worship service have been joined together. The meaning of this statement is not clear. Perhaps they have replaced the time when the sermon would take place with the Sunday School. This replacement would not be hard to believe, due to the fact that Tryon never attained a resident preacher.

All preaching, which took place very rarely, was performed by guest speakers.. The elders may have taken a turn speaking once in a while, but this fact is not stated in any of the records examined. 

In 1883 “The Christian” began publication again, and much of the following information will be taken from its contents. According to the 1884 minutes for the P.C.A, John Lord is recorded to have visited Summerside for one of the meetings. At this meeting, two people were chosen to collect funds for the general missions fund: John Lord and William Callbeck. The January 1884 issue of “The Christian” states:

"In August last Bro. R. W. Stevenson held a meeting of three weeks with the church at Tryon. Bro. Sheppard of Bowmanville, who was on the Island at that time and preached at different points with such acceptance, assisted Bro. Stevenson a few evenings at Tryon. The meeting were well attended and it is believed that good seed was sown, which will in future will appear. Four persons were immersed at that time. One man was immersed a few weeks after the meeting. The brethren were much encouraged and strengthened in their efforts to spread the gospel in that locality." (THE CHRISTIAN, Jan 1884)

As shown in the above quote, when Tryon has preaching, Tryon has response. The same page contains a report that McLean has been preaching at Summerside and Tryon; the people are highly pleased and the results are showing. The January 1885 issue of “The Christian" tells of Murdoch Gunn’s experience while preaching in Tryon. He writes that "The meetings began with the first Lords day in Nevember, and continued for five consecutive Sundays, closing with the night of the fifth Lord’s day".

Gunn further recalls that the attendance grew as the weetings continued. Sadly there were no additions to the church, but Gunn believed that had he more time, some would have been turned to the Lord. Gunn wakes additional comments which will be discussed later in this paper. He closes his letter by mentioning "The Tryon Young Ladies Literary Society” and states that he had a pleasant visit with this group, which most likely included female members of the Disciples cangregation.

1886 - 1890

In July of 1886 John Lord gave an oral report that six were added to the church, thus saking their membership 24 (P.C.A. Minutes). If the above numbers are correct, the church must have lost 11 members. In 1882 the church is reported to have 24 and in 1884 five are recorded to have joined; therefore in order to keep the numbers accurate the above calculations are necessary.

The 1887 P.C.A. meeting reports that “nearly all male members take part in meetings.” This phrase seems to indicate that some new members were not attending the services regularly and may have left the church or perhaps they were ill at this time. What is meant is not certain, but what is clear is that meetings are still in progress. In 1888 the congregation is reported to have 23 in their membership, two were removed and one joined (P.C. A. minutes). The October, 1888 issue of “The Christian” records the following statement:

"The church at Tryon are faithful in keeping up their meetings. Although their number has been thinned out by several leaving for the United States this summer and other things occur to depress them, they labour on confident that truth is mighty and will prevail" (THE CHRISTIAN, Oct 1888)

The significance of the specific reference to the U.S. is unknown. The report given at the 1888 P.C.R. meeting must have taken place before the group of people move to the United States. In the September, 1890 issue of “The Christian", WH. Harding is reported to be moving his family to Summerside to minister with the churches in Tignish and Tryon. This news proves to be the best news the Tryon church had heard for some time now.

1891-1895

As a result of Harding’s work in Tryon, within the first year three members were added to the church The Christian. The above reaction to a preacher seems to be common with regards to the Tryon church. In December, 1891, Harding held a “Big meeting" in Tryon. Also within 1891, Catherine Crawford’s death is recorded. She was the youngest child of Alexander Crawford, and most likely a member of the Tryon church.

The 1992 issue of “The Christian reports a great sadness in the Tryon church; Elder John Lord, a man who was instrumental in the starting of the congregation, and one of the gain leaders, died March 19, 1892. John Lord's grave is still visible at the grave yard across from the Tryon school house. 

The 1893 issue of the “The Christian" carried joyful news: “Bro. John Crawford, who was so badly injured during the winter, is improving”. W. H. Harding writes his last letter from Summerside in the October, 1893 issue of the “The Christian", before moving to Hants County.

Accordingly, the August, 1894 issue reads: “Like Summerside and Tignish, Tryon is without a preacher, but they are doing what they can". The same issue reports that the church has raised twenty-five dollars for the foreign missions and are taking up offerings for the work among the "American Indians". At the 1894 meeting of the P.C.A., Tryon is reported to have 24 members, and besides the amount raised for Foreign Missions, they raised 468.11 for home work. The latter sum may be referring to the money given towards the work with "American Indians" or for Island missions. Whatever the money was for, the church was doing great considering all things. 

In September of 1894 Harding writes the “The Christian” recalling his visit to P.E.I. While on this visit, Harding preached one evening in Tryon. After Harding left Summerside, a man named HE. Cooke took over as minister. On the 28th of November, 1895 he took the train which brought him to Tryon for the first time. While there he spent a lot of time becoming acquainted with the members of the cangregalion (The Christian January, 1896).

1892 - 1900

Cooke revisited Tryon and reports that he had a pleasant time. Cooke makes an interesting comment in the April 1896 issue of “The Christian” about the situation in Tryon:

"The weather was fine and our congregations were good. The prospects are encouraging, and now the summer season is coming, we will be able to settle down to more regular work. Certainly there are discouragements connected with every issue in life, and we must not think to sail to heaven on a sea of glass. Others have passed a stormy sea and entered into rest." (THE CHRISTIAN, April 1896)

Why Cooke writes the above statement is unclear; no information has been published about the loss of any members. On the other hand, there has not been a report revealing the number of members in the church since 1888; therefore, a great decrease could have taken place. During 1896, Cooke reports four further visits to Tryon, upon which he is entertained by Sister R. Morrison and Sister Lord. Amongst his last entry in 1896, Cooke writes: “Though the cause of Christ at the above mentioned place is contending against many discouragements, yet the little band is unwavering in the faith and in their confidence in God". This is where Reuben Butchart would have taken the phrase “little band" which is how he refers to them in his book.

The March 1897 issue of “The Christian“ reports the very unexpected death of Sister Robert Morrison. On May 16th, Cooke spoke in Tryon to the largest congregation ever (The Christian, June 1897: 2). Perhaps this is a glimmer of hope shining among all the sadness. The congregation is further discouraged, however, by the death of Sister Lord. The congregation was being taken apart piece by piece due to death and people moving off Island. 

On September 15, 1897, Bro. Donald Crawford preached at Tryon. On October 22nd the quarterly meeting was to be held at Tryon. Those suspected to attend were Bro. R. W. Stevenson, Bros. Emery and Manifold, Bro. D. Crawford, and if able, W. H. Harding. The meeting was held on the 28th of the same month, and all went well with those present being treated to an enjoyable weekend. The November, 1897 issue of "The Christian" states that Tryon made a contribution to the Home Mission Fund.

The May, 1898 issue of “The Christian" holds additional saddening news with regards to the Tryon congregation. The “Guardian” reports:

"It will be learned with general regret that Rev. HE. Cooke purposes leaving his present charge in Summerside and returning to Nova Scotia where he has accepted a pastorate. He will preach his farewell sermon at Tryon on the 8th at 7 pm" (THE CHRISTIAN, May 1898)

By leaving, HE. Cooke left the congregation preacherless. As in the past, when this church was preacherless, the membership dropped. This is highlighted in a letter to “The Christian", in September of 1899, by W.H. Harding. Harding writes: “In the southern part of the Island--Tryon--stands a church building, which may or may not be ours in a few years to come. The membership of this Church has been reduced by emigration and death almost to the point of extermination". 

1901 - 1905

The January, 1901 issue of “The Christian" states that Tryon poa good house of worship, but very few members. This information was known prior to this date, but was restated to prove that they were in fact still recognized as having some membership. In May, 1802, “The Christian" still acknowledges Tryon as a congregation. Tryon is found within a list of practicing congregations, they are as follows: Charlottetown, Summerside, New Glasgow, Montague, East Point, Southport (Crossroads), Murray Harbour, Tignish, Breadalbane, Fredericton, Tryon and Kildare.

In September, 1902, J.H. Williams states: “Tryon once had a fairly good congregation of Disciples, now it has but one or two members". According to Wayne Pike, “The minutes of the 1983 annual meeting (at Summerside) indicated that the board voted to dispose of their meeting house in Tryon and use the proceeds to build a manse in Summerside”. This act was carried out and according to Stewart Lewis, “In the Annual of 1904 (P.E.I.) it is reported that the building was sold for $306.00 and the money was given to buy a lot on Summer Street in Summerside to build a parsonage”. 

According to Mildred Clark, the building was used by the Tryon Consolidated School to hold classes. Mabel Simmons came down from Lady Fane to teach classes in the building. The “Laird Papers” indicate that the building was only used the one year for elasses. The building was then sold to a farmer named Angus Macdonald and later transformed into a barn.

A phone interview with Norman MacDonald, Angus MacDonald’s grandson, provided information that the church/barn burned down close to 19323; thus the building’s physical appearance is locked away within the pages of history.

*More History To Come*