160 years! That’s the milestone anniversary which the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin in Corner Brook celebrated in 2025. When The Rev’d Ulric Z. Rule arrived in the Bay of Islands on July 13, 1865, a week before his 25th birthday, he was rowed ashore from the schooner by two young boys, James Parsons, aged 8, and William Bagg, aged 6. He founded what was to be the first church of any denomination in the Bay of Islands and Bonne Bay area. A store, which he purchased at Birchy Cove in 1866 and which became a temporary residence and place of worship, was described by the bishop as “a miserable shed” when he conducted the first confirmation service there in 1867. Humble beginnings indeed.
Rule was followed by The Rev’d J. J. Curling. John Edgar, a parishioner at St. Mary’s who has an extensive knowledge of the history of the parish, described Curling as a “rich young naval officer [who] was moved to become a priest and to use his money and many practical and leadership skills to serve in Newfoundland, but particularly at St. Mary’s.” He also pointed out that J. J. Curling donated his yacht, the Lavrock, to the diocese for use as a church ship.
The leaders that followed these two pioneers continued to build on their foundation—building and extending a church and then building another church when the first one was destroyed by fire. Again, to quote John Edgar, “The successors to Rev’d Rule and Rev’d Curling were no less diligent in getting schools and chapels built throughout the [Bay of Islands]. They were disciples as well. These people did more than administer the sacraments, more than provide spiritual nourishment, they built community, advanced education, and advocated for government services from communications to transportation to welfare and health.” Faithful servants, ordained and lay, have kept ministry alive over the years.
It is this sacred trust that we celebrated throughout the year, with special bulletin covers, mugs, and pens. The mug featured a drawing by Warwick Hewitt, now deceased, which depicted Rule being rowed ashore on his arrival, a drawing which was originally commissioned for the 140th anniversary of the parish. One of the highlights of the celebration year was a dinner on October 22, when once again, the community came together to provide good food, music, and fellowship and to hear messages of congratulations and encouragement from near and far. May we continue to have many more years of ministry, in the love of God, strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit, and through Jesus the Christ who abides in us.
