Spaniard’s Bay Events

A joyous Thanksgiving service was held in the church given for the safe return of Llewellyn Blandford, Joseph Blandford, Harvey Chipman, and Abram Chipman on April 18th, 1918. They had left Halifax under sail in their schooner “Jean Campbell” and reached St. John’s 65 days later after being given up for dead.

Where 1918 would end with Thanksgiving for the end of World War One 1919 would start on a far more ominous note. The Church was ordered to remain closed from Jan. 12th to Feb.16th because of a smallpox and influenza epidemic. This spread probable owes its beginnings to servicemen returning from overseas.

Following the closing of the church for a month, the Parish got back to business. Rev. Clench spoke at length regarding his salary, he felt that the cost of living had increased to the point where the amount allowed to him was not enough to cover his expenses and if he didn’t get a raise he would leave. The Parish voted to give him $1100 for the ensuing year.

Sadly, two boys did what most boys do, they go where they shouldn’t-bad ice. Both Hector Gosse, 9 ½ yrs and John Jewer 12 yrs drowned together after going through the ice on Northern Cove Pond. Both were fatherless and were called a mother’s toughest sons. All the schoolchildren of Spaniard’s Bay were in attendance at the doublefuneral on March 28th, 1919.

Mr. Levi Chipman donated to the church a bracket of lights in memory of his son John Chipman, who was killed in action in the Great War, while serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France. He installed the lights at his own expense as well.

The parish many of its best and brightest killed on the battlefields throughout Europe, those who returned brought new ideas and life to the church. Their bravery had brought great honor to their country and to their community, their county had overstepped its financial obligations and a crushing debt for the colony. The coming years would see unprecedented economics heights, and a crushing low a few short years away.

The preceding decade saw the Mission elevated to the rank of a self supporting Parish, a joyous celebration was held. As the years progressed the community suffered through poor leadership and the Great War. If that wasn’t enough the closing decade saw the rise of the Spanish Flu, a worldwide epidemic. The boom years were behind themand dark clouds would form near the end of the decade.

The Financial Committee decided in 1920 to levy minimum amounts payable to the Rector’s Stipend. Head’s of families were levies $5.00, young men sixteen years of age and older were levied $3.00 per year. If they failed to do the Rector would recognize them, would not visit them, marry them, baptize or bury. The only exception being destitute cases.

Rev. Clench is again not happy with the amount being collected for his stipend, there appears to be a shortfall, though amounts are not given. He tells the Parish if nothing is done to raise his stipend the parish will very shortly be without a rector. A stirring address was made about the sorry state of affairs in regards to the rectors stipend “…that he admired the man who paid five dollars, but thought the same class of men who paid two dollars had no enthusiasm for their religion: He considered it a shame that a place like Spaniard’s Bay could not raise more money towards support of their Rector.”

Rev. Clench records that a very bad snowstorm prevented the trains from running in Feb. of 1921. He states that he was forced to walk from Avondale to Spaniard’s Bay, quite a long walk in Feb. He doesn’t record how long the journey took.

A fire broke out at the house of a Mr. Chipman, during the sermon on May 22nd, 1921. The Blessing was given and the men left to fight the fire. Little damage was done and the house was saved. Prayers can make a difference.

The First World War saw many parishioners serve overseas in various capacities most with the British Armed Forces, some with the Canadian Armed Forces, and even with the American Armed Forces. One native son inparticular, PFC John Charles Chipman was killed in action at Loisson, France on July 19th, 1918 while serving in the U.S. 16th Infantry Regiment. His body was exhumed and sent home for final interment on May 24th, 1921 with full military honors. A written account of that day stated that there were approximately 1500 people in church that day. Four priests presided over the service.

The body of William Hutchings, 61, was found in the water at Mint Cove at 8am June 1st, 1921. How he got into the water was never found out.

The school children and teachers paraded for the funeral of Ronald Sheppard, a scholar who attended the Central School House.

The parish had great problems after it committed itself to pay the Rector $1100 per year; the post war years saw a steady decline in world prices for wood, fish and iron ore. Wartime spending by the Government of Newfoundland led to huge debt, which in turn forced taxes to go higher and higher. Quite simply they could not afford the stipend they had offered. Clench tells them yet again that the parish could not expect him to live on the amount that they had collected for his stipend, if he receives an offer from another parish and no more money is coming his way, he would have to accept the offer of another parish. The wardens were then told to make a list of those men who had not paid church dues and to visit those men on their next payday.

Jan. 14th, 1923 saw the introduction of the weekly envelope offering system, instead of door to door canvassing of the church to pay church dues in full, families could put in whatever they could spare to go into the church during services. This would ensure the parish of a continuous income.

The envelope system paid off early dividends as the parish saw fit to raise the Rector’s stipend to $1200.00 in 1927. This may have been in part because of an increased world demand for Labrador Salt Fish, this increase where most all other Newfoundland industries suffered.

Question of ownership of the Parish Hall arose in 1925, does the church own it or does the school board? The Rector stated emphatically that the Parish owns the Parish Hall.

Anyone who has ever seen the movie Footloose would have an understanding of the next topic. According to reports brought to the Annual meeting in 1925, there are many people in the Parish who are opposed to dancing in the Parish Hall. The matter was put to a vote and it was decided that any and all dancing would cease in the Parish Hall In 1927 this motion was rescinded and dancing was allowed. It is possible that something occurred which few people agreed with because in 1928 dancing was again ordered to cease in the Parish Hall. Minds were changed in 1929 because dancing was again allowed, but only six times per year, and that twenty- percent of the proceeds of all dances be paid to the Parish Hall Upkeep Fund. Dancing was again ceased in 1930. As revenue was needed for various church endeavors to keep the bills paid, dancing was again allowed in 1931, there would be more resolutions ceasing such forms of entertainment.

The Great Depression hit the parish in all its fury in the fall of 1929. Businesses and industries collapsed, as there were no markets for their products. Banks fell and entire saving were wiped out overnight. Families who did not have the means to subside through means of their own were given eight cents a day to keep body and soul together.

It would be no small feat for the parish to operate under such dire conditions. It would be assured that many prayers for conditions to improve would have been made. This era would try the patience and the faith of those who lived in Spaniard’s Bay. Hard work and due diligence would be the main qualities of leaders through these difficult times.