(The following information was transcribed from NB Archives film Number F961 topic is "History of Campobello Free Baptists". This information was first published in the Saint Croix Courier in September and October 1967, in three parts. This section was published September 28, 1967. I will transcribe it in more than that as it is a rather large article. The series was written by Dr. Charles M. Smith about the beginning of the "Free Baptist" of Campobello and the different ministers.

Note: Some of the film was very hard to read due to dark copies of the original article and overlapping. As a result, for the first part there will be a number of words missing and indicated by ----. Transcribed and converted to html by Heather Waddingham, with permission of the Saint Croix Courier. )

History of Campobello Free Baptists Part 1

"The history of the "Free Baptist's" of Campobello, like those of nearly all Baptist Churches is centered in and around the lives and ministries of there Pastors - for the birth and development of any church depends primarly upon the vision, the dedication and the energy of its minister. Due to this natural fact the following record is compiled of a few of Campobello Baptists Pastors.

Perhaps a brief word may be said at the ------------------------------------------coming of Baptists to the Maritimes. Apparently the earliest Baptist people came from the New England States and as pre-loyalists mainly from Nova Scotia. These stern, puritanical pioneers (coming after the departure of the Acadians) became strong and hard working settlers taking their life and religion eith notable seriousness. But it was not until the coming of Rev. Henry Aldine that the "fuel burst into --------" and Baptists began to ------into scattered groups finding identity and strength in their newly developed fellowship. In due time "Free Baptists" preachers from the United States visiting these little essembilities gradually organized them into what later became known as the "Free Baptists" of Nova Scotia.

It is not precisely known just when this work -----------began in New Brunswick but a group called the "------Baptist ---------Conferences of New Brunswick" was organized at Wakefield Carleton County October 13 1832 embracing six churches and two ordained ministers: Elders Samuel Nutt and Charles McMullin. Also present at this Conference were Lic. W. E. Pennington and several laymen. Here was organized the "New Brunswick Christian Conference". Fifteen years later the name was changed to "Free Christian Baptists" - which identification persisted until 1898. Rev. McMullin was was born at Deer Island, Charlotte County in 1791. He was ordained however by ministers of the ":Christian Church" in Maine in 1829 returning to New Brunswick in 1860 and continuing his vigorous ministery here until 1879. Samuel Nutt was also of the "Christian Church" of Maine. In 1830 he began his labours for Christ at Queensbury, York County and ---- came a most energetic evangelist ------wn the years. There were many -----iers of comparable stock in the early decades of the 19th century ----- as Robert Colpitts, Samuel ------, William Pennington, Samuel --rmwood, Samuel Weyman, Jacob ---nter and Alexander Taylor, - who's name we will mention later --- this paper. Coming now to the -------work on Campobello - a --------- word: I have selected seven ------ of the Baptist Church of Wilson's Beach - not because of ------ seeming preeminence over their fellow ministers as such - is --iar not the case, but mainly because of the availability of records and the periodic spread of their ministeries over some seventy years from 1844-1914.

Rev. William L. Carleton

The first church of Baptist per----on Campobello was founded ---- Rev. William L. Carleton April ---- 1844. Very little has been found --- Rev. Carleton either before or ----- his visit to the Island. All ---- dependable history gives us us ---- Mr. Carleton came to Campobello , found a tiny group of Baptists ---- with "fifteen believers" organized them into a body which they called the "Christian Church of Campobello", very likely taking this name from that of the "Christian Church" of Maine.Taking the Bible as their "sole authority in matters of faith and practice" they pro----ded to hold meetings - possible ---- some local homes at the first ----"in the schoolhouse that stood on a piece of land owned by Mrs. James Brown. How long Rev. Carleton remained cannot be ascertained but may be presumed that after an ----ended visit he left the direction ---the little flock to lay-leadership ---an essential practice during the early years. At the organization meeting James Wilson was chosen ---- Clerk, and Josiah Patterson, Jas. Parker and Samuel Parker were ---- noted as Decons; thus the Baptists were established on the Island, ---with no house of worship wor----of the name of "Church".

But these were by no means the only Christians on Campobello; although no church buildings were ---cted thereon in the 18th century, religious services, however were conducted by laymen who, aided by a Prayer Book or the reading of the -----familiar to Anglican worship ----they carried on at least some form of Christian service for their people. Admiral Owen's diary has this very early and authentic note on religious services in or near Wilson's Beach. "June 10, 1770, Sunday having no better place yet, I performed Devine Services in a shed both morning and evening at which attended most of the inhabitants of Indian and Casco Bay Islands".

About 30 years later however, around 1800 a "Little Chapel" was built by David Owen which most likely was the first church of any kind on Campobello. This Chapel was -- periodic use for at least 35 years as gained from a report by Admiral Wm.Fitz-William Owens was "still in existance but not in use" at this time. Campobello in 1839 (with a population of around 600) was without any professional ministerial services with the possible exception of the infrequent visits of an itinerant clergyman travelling throughout the Passamaquody area. October 12, 1839, W. F. W. Owens appealed to to his Bishop (apparently to Nova Scotia, though possibly London) to provide the island with a resident pastor. Four years later Owens appealed again (apparently to the Colonial Church Society of London) reporting that a Rev. Thomas McGhee, who had given periodic service to the Mission throughout the past winter and now been under orders for movement elsewhere. Rev. McGhee had found (in the fall of 1842) "only ten communicants on his arrival but by spring had seen 40 more confirmed in the faith and added to the Church".

Rev. Peter Malloch

1849-1856

It was not for long that the Baptist Church of Campobello was without pastoral leadership, for some time late in the 1840's, Mr. Peter Malloch arrived on the island from Deer Island and took up his residency and ministery that were to last the rest of his arduous and dedicated life. Mr. Malloch was born in St. Andrew's, NB in 1796. There he was reared under Christian influence, was converted and "in 1825 he was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Keys of St. Andrews". When Mr. Malloch was thirty-five years of age (1831) he felt the call to preach and decided to enter the ministry. He there upon moved his family to Deer Island and "uniting with some Christian brethren" there became, at least partially responsible in the forming of the "Deer Island Christian Church", afterward known as the "Free Baptist Church" of Chocolate Cove. Later he moved to Campobello. Exactly when Mr. Malloch took up permanent residency on Campobello is not known, but it is a matter of firm record that he was ordained on Campobello in 1849; and that some time afterward he was received into the fellowship of the "Free Baptist General Conference" as one of its ministers. He was then 53 years of age. Living so close to Campobello (while on Deer Island) he most certainly had visited the island often, and being a fisherman may well have come to know many of Campobello's citizens.

Since Mr. Malloch was not a ----- ----- , he was compelled to find his own livelihood in the life of a fisherman. All this made him a man of vigor and independence - strong of body and unswerving in faith. In 1854 the Church at Wilson's Beach authorized Mr. Malloch to unite them with the "Free Baptist Conference of New Brunswick". This was finally accomplished at a District meeting held in the parish of Johnston, Queen's County and the Church hereby took into itself the name of the "Free Christian Baptist Church". Holding to its original tenot of "taking the Bible as its only rule of faith and practice" they adopted "the Treatise of Faith of said Conference as an exposition of their doctrinal views".

Mr. Malloch was a most ardent and devout man. He preached with vigor and served his ministery with such commitment that few of his successors could ever hope to emulate him. It is said of him that "he preached not to live, but lived to preach". "His grammar may not always have been faultless but his message was good. His hands were hard from much labour of the weekday, but his heart was tender, made ready by divine grace for the loving service of the Sabbath". (Quote Rev. E. S. Parker, "Religious Intelligencer", apparently spoken at the time of Mr. Malloch's death). Rev. Malloch passed away March 7, 1876 at 80 years of age, leaving his wife, four sons, five daughters and manifold grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His portrait hangs in the church auditorium.

Mr. Malloch's ministry remained strong and active until some time following "the 1863 revival" after which his strength and health began to wane. His latter years were spent in the role of a supply minister when the pulpit was empty; and assisting other pastors as the need required. On occassions there were two or three ministers resident on Campobello at the same time and engaged in a sort of cooperative ministry. This combined effort tends to make a sincere and accurate research most confusing as we shall see later on.

Returning to the chronological order of the history of the Church - 1854 marks the year of official record and status for the Wilson's Beach church. At the first business meeting thereof after the "union" an election of officers was held at which William J. Galley was chosen as clerk and James Wilson was added to the Board of Deacons - now making four in number. It is inspiring to note that candidates for membership declared their faith and intentions by entering into the following covenant:

"We take the Bible as the man of our council and guide in our lives, to sustain the worship of God, by attending the meetings of the Church when it is in our power, and by never grieving the Holy Spirit; and by reporting ourselves to the Brethern once a month in conference unless necessarily absent."

Records show a growing congregation of an anctive "Sabbath School" as early as 1854. The next year the Campobello Church appeared on the official list of Churches of the New Brunswick Conference, although no record of a stated pastoral ministry was noted until the next annual report of 1856. This year apparently concluded Mr. Malloch's permanent pastorate, having served since 1849 and during the Church's most trying and formative years.

Go to History of Campobello Free Baptists Part 2
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