| OUR HISTORY - SAINT AUGUSTINE'S |
St. Augustine Congregation at Burnt Head has its origins in the early 17th century. The first Anglican priest is believed to have landed in Newfoundland in c.1613 as part of the colonization of John Guy's Colony at 'Cuper's Cove' - Cupids. Cupids has been established as the site of the first headquarters of the Church in the Ancient Colony and the congregation of Burnt Head was part of this movement.
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The first Church building was erected in what is now part of St. Augustine's cemetery. The building was built during the latter part of the eighteenth century under the auspices of the Society for the Promotion of the Gospel. This building was then replaced by another which was demolished, by fire, in 1910. The then new St. Augustine's Church was re-built on the site of the now existing Church. The Church was built, paid for and consecrated within a year of the start of construction. Construction started in November of 1910 and the new building was dedicated on June 18th, 1911.
The official consecration took place on September 28th, 1913.The rector at the time was Rev'd. George H. Field. The building was of frame construction built along traditional Gothic Architectural lines. It should be noted that when the Church was constructed, it was located at the centre of St. Augustine's Congregation. For 50 years St. Augustine's Church at Burnt Head stood proud but the Congregation became smaller and smaller and the building itself fell into a worsening state of repair. Then, in March of 1962, St. Augustine's Congregation rallied around the "Old Church" and re-construction began. The chancel of the old church was removed along with the roof over the tall main portion of the nave and the Clerestory. A new chancel with adjacent vestry and furnace room was built into the eastern portion of the former nave and the whole building was covered with a new roof of gable design. The old interior wooden wall panelling and the ceiling were refinished with wallboard. Coal and wood heaters were replaced by an oil furnace.
Electric lights were installed for the first time through a donation by Ms. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rich in memory of the late William T. and Eliza Bishop. After four months of devoted work, most of which was rendered on a voluntary basis, the restoration of St. Augustine's was complete. On the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, the newly renovated Church was dedicated to the Glory of God by His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. J. A. Meaden Lord Bishop of Newfoundland.
The building has undergone some minor renovations to its exterior since 1962. The main area of renovation has been the Church tower which as been a re-occurring problem over the past 30 years. Eventually, the bell was removed from the tower and the tower itself was cut down to its present format. The new hall was added in January of 1999 and a bell tower was erected at the western end of the Church. |
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