Emma Amelia Burns Lawrence, known to all as Burnsie, holds a unique place in the history of St. Jacques, Newfoundland and Labrador. Born on March 23, 1933, she is the oldest person born in the community and still living there today. Her life is a remarkable testament to the resilience, faith, and close-knit spirit of this small outport town.
Roots in St. Jacques
Burnsie was named Emma after her father’s sister, and Amelia after a family nurse who may have assisted in her birth. After her baptism, her godmother, Hazel Young, affectionately added “ie” to her surname, and Burnsie became the name by which everyone knew her.
Her father, Albert Pope Skinner, born in St. Jacques in 1896, served as the sexton of St. Michael and All Angels’ Church for 20 years (which was noted in the church register at the time of his death) before passing away at age 44 in 1937. Her mother, Louisa Scott, originally from Doctor’s Harbour, lived to the remarkable age of 100, passing away in 1996. Burnsie’s grandfather, James William Skinner (February 1851 – July 1927), and her father were both baptised in the same church where Burnsie herself was baptised, married, and saw her eight children baptised and confirmed. Her great-grandfather, William John Skinner, is believed to have been born in 1825 or 1826, and died in 1907, is also buried there, but without a tombstone.
A Church at the Heart of Life
The existing St. Michael and All Angels’ Church building, standing for over 100 years, has a rich history. Archival records indicate that in 1891, plans were made for a “new and enlarged church,” and by 1892, construction was well underway. By 1893, the structure was deemed “usable” in time for the Bishop’s visit. The church was consecrated in 1898, the same year the Church of England Women’s Association (CEWA) began raising funds for a stained-glass East window, which would take a year or two to complete.
By 1923, further improvements were made to the church’s interior, including the addition of a reredos to the altar, repainting and panelling of the chapel, and the installation of a new carpet imported from England in the chancel. While the church interior remains largely the same, the carpet has since been replaced, and the ceiling was lowered when electric heat was installed several years ago.
The church once had a tower, which was removed and replaced with a cross, along with the original tower window. A photograph from the November 2024 issue of Anglican Life shows the building after these changes, at a time when it was still heated by an oil furnace. Despite modifications, the main building retains the same number of windows, although the original ones have been replaced, and a chancel window has been removed. A photograph featuring the Bishop and The Rev’d Harold Brown captures the now-absent chancel window from the inside.
The cemetery adjacent to the church was expanded in the early 1960s, as evidenced by a photo of the Bishop consecrating the new ground. This image also shows the church before the removal of the tower and the chancel window. Another archival photograph highlights the original church windows.
Above the church porch, the bell remains intact. Traditionally, this bell was rung half an hour before services and tolled during funerals as a casket was brought in and out of the church. Records from 1939 state that the Bishop consecrated both the tower and the bell.
Over the years, the church’s heating and lighting systems evolved. Initially warmed by coal stoves and illuminated by kerosene lamps, the building later transitioned to an oil furnace before adopting electric heat. Archival notes from late 1935 document the replacement of the old brick chimney with a concrete one to support these advancements.
A Bishop’s visit for confirmation was a significant occasion, marked by the decoration of the churchyard with boughs lining the fence and an archway with a sign reading “Welcome to our Bishop,” as seen in the photograph included with this article.
This blend of preservation and change reflects the enduring importance of St. Michael and All Angels’ Church to its congregation and the community of St. Jacques.
A Life of Faith and Service
In 1953, Burnsie married John Thomas Lawrence at St. Michael and All Angels’ Church. Together, they raised eight children, five boys and three girls, in their St. Jacques home. All were baptised and confirmed in the church, and several were married there, continuing the family’s deep connection to the historic building.
From an early age, Burnsie was immersed in church life. Sunday services were central to her upbringing, whether held in her home town, or if there wasn’t a service in St. Jacques, they would sometimes walk to Belleoram. She became an active member of the Church of England Women’s Association (later the Anglican Church Women’s Association) and served as treasurer for both the organisation and the church congregation for decades. The highlight was the Fall “Sale of Work,” at which members displayed their knitting, crocheting, and embroidery work, and also their culinary skills with Church Suppers.
Her dedication extended to supporting fundraisers and maintaining meticulous records.
Burnsie stepped back from her treasurer duties only after a serious injury at age 80, but she continues to attend services and support church events at 91.
A Legacy of Family and Faith
The Skinner family has deep roots in St. Jacques, with ancestors among the earliest settlers. Their family plot, situated near the church, serves as a reminder of their enduring presence in the community.
As the oldest person born in St. Jacques still living there, Burnsie embodies the spirit of a town where family, faith, and community are inextricably linked. Her life, interwoven with the history of St. Michael and All Angels’ Church, ensures the legacy of both will continue to inspire future generations.
