United Church of Canada. Little Bay Islands Pastoral Charge

Little Bay Islands was an appointment of the old Green Bay Circuit. In 1856, its membership was 16 and increases followed in 1859 when the Society class shows 22 members at Little Bay Islands.

The first church or Meeting House for Little Bay Islands was a log house with an open fireplace. It was built halfway between the two harbours, Northern and Southern Harbours. This meeting house lasted for several years because it was not until 1866 that the second Church was built. This church was built on the opposite side of the road from the old cemetery and Rev. F. Scott was the first minister on record, having ministered there in 1867.

The community of Little Bay Islands was supplied from Exploits previous to 1873 when this missions name appeared on the minutes with Charles Myers as its pastor. Sometimes Pilley's Island and Long Island missions were connected with Little Bay Islands and sometimes worked separately. The first parsonage was built in 1874. Two new churches were erected in Little Bay Islands in 1875.

During the year of 1891, the Little Bay Island Mission was divided and the northern part of the mission was renamed Little Bay Island Mission and the southern part was known as Pilley's Island Mission.

Records indicate that a new church was dedicated on March 1, 1885 with preachers being Revs. J.N. Vickers and G. Noble. From this mission, Walter G. Jones, Harold Parsons, William Grimes and W.J. Morris entered the Ministry. According to the Little Bay Circuit Accounts Books 1889-1911, the boundaries of the Little Bay Islands Circuit included the following communities: Boat Harbour, Harry's Harbour, Jackson's Cove, Little Bay, Three Arms, Wild Bight and Wolf Cove.

After 1925, the following communities were included in the Little Bay Islands Circuit: Lush's Bight, where a new church was built in 1921, Cutwells Arm; Wards Harbour, Wellman's Cove, Mile's Cove, Port Anson, Long Island and Beaumont where a new church was built in 1924.

Created - May 16, 2013

• Engels