1

Religion has played an important part in the formation of Birchy Bay and Baytona. It was recorded that the first settlers in Birchy Bay, in 1857, were of the Church of England. Although these people did not have a place of worship at that time here in Birchy Bay they may of held contact with the church in Barr'd Islands..

2

The next influx of settlers in the 1880's and 1890's were of the Methodist movement which had a great impact on the people in Barr'd Island. Many of which were previously Anglican but converted to the Methodist beliefs. The early settlers did not have a place of worship so services were often held in the tilts which were the homes of the early settlers. Basil Osmond was known to hold services in his tilt every Sunday. Here the early settlers would gather together for a word of prayer and to sing some hymns.

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Basil and Martha Ann Osmond
1920s
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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As the population in Birchy Bay increased people saw a greater need for a common place of worship. The first Methodist minister to visit Birchy Bay was Reverend Jeffery in 1895. He would have taken in the services in the homes of the residents. Reverend Jeffery was the minister for the Comfort Cove, Loon Bay, Campbellton and Birchy Bay area. He latter drowned off the south coast. The little congregation of settlers had grown and no longer were they able to have "Cottage Services" as they were called. So in 1902-1904 the inhabitants of Birchy bay erected its first church. The minister at that time would have been stationed on Exploits Island but would come to Birchy Bay and Baytona on occasion. This church in 1906 would double as a school in the weekdays. The purpose of the church in them days was a place of Worship and as well as a banquet hall which is better described by the late Allan Quinlan
"the church and school were built by free labour and maintained by money raised at concerts and teas (banquets). The teas were the work of the women's auxiliary of the church called the Ladies' Aid. The Teas consisted of a cup or two of tea and all the cake or biscuits one wanted for the price of 25 cents. Twenty five cents was twelve percent of a days wages"
This show's the ability of men and women to pull together to raise funding to keep their church and school opened. The church opened up a social arena for the residents. In them they held these banquets with games such as "guessing cake". This was where a cake had a certain object placed inside and for five cents a guess you could guess to see what it was.The one who guessed correctly won the cake. They also held auctions where cakes along with baked goods were sold. From a humble little building the hopes and aspirations of Birchy Bay grew.

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Funeral Of Goldie Quinlan
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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The Salvation Army was having strong movements in the area. Two local residents John Canning and Levi Canning use to travel to nearby Comfort Cove to view the Salvation Army services. They too were converted. In 1915 there was a call for a Salvation Army church to be built.
Levi Witcher Canning the son of the early settler John Canning joined the Salvation Army. He became an officer and played a leading role in the starting of many Salvation Army Churches in the Province such as in Grand Falls. Levi Canning latter went to Miami Florida were he also conducted his work. He later died and was buried there.

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The Salvation Army
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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Salvation Army Church
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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Funeral of "Willy Canning"
1928
Grand falls, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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Confirmation
1960s
Baytona, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

11

Across on the opposite side of the bay the Lewis family were of the Anglican faith. Church services were held in the homes of thepioneer settlers at first. But the common meeting place would be back at Barr'd Islands when the men would go back on the summer to fish. The first woman to be buried in the Anglican cemetery was Selina Taylor\Lewis and she was buried there in the 1930s. The cemetery is now located on the back of the present, St. John The Baptist Anglican Church beneath the tall aspen trees and a large cross erected there by the people of Baytona.

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Some of the settlers of Birchy Bay had close ties to Black Island where the Pentecostal faith was having a great impact. Some of the families in Birchy Bay were converted to this faith and held services in the home of Samuel & Lucy Quinlan. Then Mr. Arthur Osmond allowed to people to use his store as a house of worship until too that got too small. Finally in 1936 the first pastor came to Birchy Bay Mr. Wallace Belbin who led the services in the bay.

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The Osmond's Store
1930s
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

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The Pentecostal Church
20th Century
Birchy Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada