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Canon George Townshend, rector of Christ Church at Amherst, N.S. 1834 to 1895, was the son of Hon. William A. Townshend, [note that this is the only reference to William having a second name] a naval officer and collector of customs on Prince Edward Island, being appointed by the British Government in 1784. [One source says his appointment was by PEI officials but another source confirms that that appointment was by William Pitt - a possible friend of William] William Townshend's wife was Flora Stewart, the daughter of Peter Stewart, Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island.
William and Flora resided at Summer Hill [possibly named after Esther Summer, Sir Cecil Wray's wife], P.E.I. On Lot 48, given to them by Flora's father in 1799. Canon George Townshend, born on May 9, 1810, was the youngest son in the family. He was a medical student at Edinburgh at the age of 18 years, and while there decided to study for the Anglican ministary.
He left Edinburgh and went to King's College at Windsor, Nova Scotia. In 1834 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was ordained on May 26, 1823. The Christ Church at that time was situated at the site of present Anglican cemetery which was then opposite Capt. E.R. Elderkin's place, about a mile west of where Christ Church is today (1980).
A year later he was ordained a priest and held regular services in Amherst and Westmorland, and often a third Sunday service at Fort Lawrence, Amherst Head or Napan.
On September 18, 1836, he became rector of Christ Church and also built up an interest in Pugwash, N.S. In 1845 he gave up Westmorland and turned to Joggins, Minudie and Maccan, often riding on horseback the 24 miles to the Joggins on Saturday afternoon, for the service there on Sunday morning, then returning to Maccan for the service in the afternoon, and to amherst in the evening for service. In 1874, Bishop Medley appointed Rev. George Townshend, Canon of St. Luke's Cathedral, Halifax, N.S., where he afterwards officiated at times, though continuing his duties at Amherst. When he retired from active duties of rectorship, he went to Bushey, Hett., near London, England, where he remained at the home of his niece, Miss Townshend until her death in 1893.
In that year he returned to Canada to live with a daughter in Montreal, and journeyed to Amherst to address the congregation of Christ Church, and was greeted by a large gathering of people.
Facts taken from the rectors diary, showed that he had baptised 1 200 persons in the parish of Amherst, had solemnized the marriage of 720 couples and conducted 375 burials. The first marriage was that of George Keillor and Maria Bacon on August 21, 1834, the next was Elisha Embree and Martha Ann Stewart.
Canon George Townshend was married first to Miss Marianne Kinnear of Halifax, who died in 1873 leaving one child, Mary Townshend. He later married Elizabeth Lucy Stewart, eldest daughter of Hon. Alexander Stewart on September 24, 1838. They had a family of seven children as follows:
George S., Alexander S.,Charles J., William H., John Medley, Cecil Wray, and Flora Stewart Townshend. Elizabeth (Stewart) Townshend died in 1881 and Canon George Townshend died in 1895, both are buried in the Anglican cemetery at Amherst.
| Canon Rev George (1810 - 1895), the youngest son of Hon William Townshend and Flora Stewart, grandson of Richard Townshend and probable great-grandson of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount He first married Marriane Kinnear (b.???? - 1837), sister of Judge Kinnear and had one daughter:
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The bell of Christ Church, which on every Sunday for a half-century had called worshippers together to attend the ministrations of their loved rector, Canon Townshend, tolled forth on Sunday morning the announcement that his long and faithful life-work had closed. Perhaps nothing could have been more consonance with his wishes than to have ended his days as he did on the Holy Sabbath in the old home in which he had spent the greater part of his life. Yet it seems strange that it was so ordained, for he has been away from Amherst most of the time for the last twelve years.
Up to 1883, when Canon Townshend took up his residence in England, he was one of the best known, as he was one of the most esteemed persons in the County of Cumberland. While his church was always paramount, he manifested a practical interest in the public affairs of the town and county. Educational interests always found in him a valued assistant, and for many years he was chairman of the school commissioners for the county. He was always a prominent figure at the old town meetings, where he was specially watchful of the interests of the deserving poor. Indeed, this class often received substantial help at his hands, and he stood so little on the order of emptying his purse in any cause which enlisted his sympathy that Mrs. Townshend found it necessary to be his treasurer, though her own generosity was proverbial.
In manners and in loyalty to British institutions, he was typical of the English gentleman – courteous to and considerate of all; a kindly disposition which led him to give any attention in his power to the sick, whether of high or low degree, parishioners of his own or otherwise. He was son of Hon. William Townshend, a native of England, [note England and not Wales] who came in about 1808 to Charlottetown, where George the subject of this sketch was born May 9, 1810. At the age of 18 he was a medical student at Edinburgh, but having determined to take holy orders, he left and entered Kings College, Windsor. In 1834 he graduated B.A., and in 1856 the college conferred upon him the degree of M.A. On Aug. 15, 1834, having been made a deacon by Bishop John Inglis, he came to Amherst, and did his first duty on the 17th in Christ Church, which then occupied a site at the burial ground, opposite Capt. E. B. Elderkin's, about a mile west of where the church now stands. A year later he was an ordained pries. In that year he regularly held services at Amherst and Westmorland, and often a third Sunday service at Fort Lawrence, Amherst head, or Nappan. On Sept. 18, 1836, he became rector of Christ Church, and also built up and interest at Pugwash. In 1838 his ministations extended to Bay Verte. An appointment having been made at Westmorland in 1843 he gave up N.B., and turned his attention to the Joggins on Saturday afternoon, in all conditions of the weather, holding service there Sunday morning at Maccan in the afternoon, and Amherst in the evening.
The first site occupied by Christ Church was about midway between Amherst Corner and Dixon's Corner, the two centres of the sparse population of the period 1824-1846. At the latter date, Mr. Townshend having succeeded in obtaining the bishop's sanction to remove it to Amherst Corner, which had become by far the more important "corner", he had the brick walls taken down and removed to the present site, assisting himself in carting the material, for he never spared himself in any necessary labor in behalf of his loved church and people. The new edifice was consecrated June 27, 1847. Under his ministry it has from time been enlarged and improved – in 1877 by a beautiful new chancel – until it came to be one of the model churches of the province. Other churches built through__? instrumentality were St. George's Pugwash (bon__? The Universalists) ____? of E. services Sept. 17, ____? , St Luke's, Bay Verne, Aug. 8, 1841; St. Paul's, Maccan, Jan. 1, 1854.
Rev. Mr. Townshend was held in highest esteem by Bishop Medley, who in 1874 appointed him Canon of St.Luke's Cathedral, Halifax, where he afterwards occasionally officiated, though continuing his duties at Amherst. His assistants here at various times have been Rev's J.D. Browne and D.C. Moore. In 1833 he chose Rev. V. E. Harris, Rector of Londonderry, his vicar, and retiring from active duties of the rectorship, went to Bushey, Herts, near London, Eng. Where he remained in the household of his niece, Miss Townshend, until her death in 1893. While there he engaged in church duties as long as health permitted. Both sight and hearing, became, however, quite impaired, and in 1893 he had a severe attack of la grippe, from which he never fully recovered. During the ten years of absence from his Amherst parishioners, he continued to bear them in loving remembrance, and as often as the New Year's service in Christ Church recurred, the vicar read a touching and affectionate letter from their beloved rector. Since returning to Canada to spend the evening of his life among his children, he has been most of his time in Montreal, with his daughter, Mrs. St. George, but also visited at Halifax, Amherst, and Parrsboro. Though quite feeble, he persisted in coming from Parrsboro to Amherst about three weeks before his death, remaining at his son's, J. M. Townshend, Esq. At his bedside in his last moments were: J. M. Townshend, Mrs. St. George and Mrs. C. J. Townshend.
Canon Townshend married Miss Marianne Kinnear, of Halifax (sister of the late Mrs. J. S. Morse and Judge Kinnear), who died in 1837, leaving one child, Mary, now deceased, who was married to J. W. K. Johnson, Halifax. Canon Townshend's second wife was Elizabeth L., daughter of Hon. Alex. Stewart, C.B., and sister of Col. C.J. Stewart, Mrs. Bliss, Westmorland, the late Mrs. R.B. Dickey, and the late Mrs. Clerke. She died in 1881. The children by this marriage were: George S. Townshend, merchant, Philadelphia, deceased; Dr. Alexander Stewart Townshend, Parrsboro; Judge Charles J. Townshend, Halifax; Capt. Wm. H. Townshend, now at sea; Flora S. Townshend, wife of P. W. St. George, C.E., city engineer of Montreal; J. Medley Townshend, Q.C., stipendiary and recorder of Amherst; Cecil Wray Townshend, deceased.
In July, 1893, on his return from England, the announcement that he would address the congregation of Christ Church brought a large gathering. Although he had just journeyed from Montreal, he was able to address the people, which he did with considerable emotion. He said, as reported at the time in this paper:
My dear friends, I am sure that after fifty years of ministration with you, you will forgive me for attempting in my feeble condition to speak to you a few words. Having travelled upwards of 600 miles in order to be here to-day, you may readily suppose that I feel unable to address you. But I could not turn away from you without expressing my thanks to Almighty God that he had again given me the privilege of meeting you all – not all ?___? I left, but you who remain, and you also who may be strangers. You have not been absent from my mind and heart all these years; and I have endeavored to impart to you a knowledge of the fact by communicating with you at each new year. I congratulate you on the progress you have made during my absence. I shall not be here long at present; but will return if health permit and endeavor to visit some of you in your homes, where I have so often seen you. I pray that the blessing of God may be with you. God bless you.
On this visit he was driven around to the homes of many of his old parishioners, and received numerous visitors.
On last Sunday evening, Rev. Mr. Harris, who has been like an affectionate son to the Canon, made a touching reference to the loss which the church and his parishioners had sustained, and paid a high tribute to the virtues of the deceased: He also gave some interesting facts taken from the rector's diary. He had baptized in the parish of Amherst just 1200 persons, solemnized the marriage of 720 couples, and conducted services at 375 burials. The first marriage was that of George Keillor and Maria Bacon, Aug. 21, 1834, the next, Elisha Embree and Martha Ann Stewart. References were also made to deceased and enlogistic words spoken of him by the other clergymen of the town on Sunday. After the evening service a meeting of the Church Wardens and Vestrymen was held at which it was "Resolved that the Wardens and Vestrymen, now met for the first time following the death of the Rev. Canon Townshend, the long beloved rector of this parish, record their admiration of this honorable, successful and generous career and their appreciation of his faithful and loyal services, not only to this parish, but to the church in general for whose interest and advancement his life has been devoted. "Resolved, that, while we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing family in their bereavement, we can have the gratification of pointing them to a completed life, and offering them the solace of looking back to a father who for sixty years was rector of one parish, and who spent over half a century in active service, retaining the affection of his parishioners to the end."
The remains lay in the chancel of the church from early on Monday evening to the time of the obsequies Tuesday afternoon, and were viewed by hundreds of people. They were enclosed in an ?______? ?______? . The canonical vestments were worn, a chalice was placed in the folded head, and many cut flowers and floral emblems were placed in and about the casket by the hands of loving relatives and friends. There were: a pillow of roses from the vicar, wardens and vestry, with the words, "Our Beloved Rector;" a wreath from Judge, Mrs. and Miss Townshend; cross from Mr. and Mrs. St. George, Dr. A. S., Capt. W. and J. Medley Townshend, the Montreal grandchildren (inscribed Grandfather) and Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Douglas; a bouquet from Mrs. A. A. Brown, and cut flowers from Miss Ella Moffat. The Canadian flag on the church was at half-mast from the time of the canon's decease.
At the funeral service the church was crowded to the doors. His Lordship Bishop Courtney and eleved clergymen of the Church of England were present, viz.: Very Rev Dean Gilpin, Halifax; Venerable Archdeacon Kaulbach, Truro; Rev's J R Campbell, Dorchester; G D Harris, Lunenburg; E B Hooper, Moncton; D M Bliss, Westmorland; Cecil Wiggins, Sackville; W C Wilson, Springhill; A M Bent, Pugwash; C H Fullerton, Petitcodiac; besides the vicar of the parish. The following clergymen of their bodies in town also at ended: Rev's Dr Steele, McGregor, Williams, and Phipps. Among those in the church was Mrs R K Smith, aged 86, the only member when Mr. Townshend'd incumbent began. Many were also present from various parts of Cumberland and Westmorland.
The service opened with a procession of clergy up the aisle, led by Rev W C Wilson, holding a cross, the Bishop at the rear saying the burial service. A representation from the masonic Grand Lodge of N.S., of which deceased was a grand chaplain, followed, including the Grand Master, W F McCoy, of Halifax. The vicar announced the hymns during the service, which were: "Lead Kindly Light," "Abide with me," and "Now the Laborer's Task is O'er." He also lead the reading of Psalm XC, the alternate verses being taken by the bishop and clergy in almost perfect synchronism. The scripture lesson was read by Dean Gilpin. As the clergymen who acted as pall-bearers bore the casket from the church, the organist, C Hillcoat, played the Dead March in Saul, the Amherst Band playing "Sun of My Soul" in the churchyard. The procession was as follows:
The pall-bearers were: Archdeacon Kaulbach, Rev's Bent Wilson, Hooper, Campbell, G D Harris. Among the mourners in the church or procession were: Judge and Mrs. Townshend, J M and Mrs. Townshend and son, Dr. Townshend and son, Mr. and Mrs. St. George, Miss Johnson, Rev D Bliss, Senator Dickey, J ? Dickey, C.E., Mrs. A. R. Dickey, Cecil Parsons, C.E., Dr. Bliss, B D Bent, Rev C Wiggins, H A Hillcoat, George Hillcoat.
Col C J Stewart, Halifax, brother-in-law of deceased, was unfortunately prevented from being present by a severe attack of bronchitis, which has confined him to his house for the last fortnight.
The procession which included a large number of persons in carriages and on foot, was one of the most imposing seen here for a long time. A large number of members from the Acacia Lodge, A F & A M, of which the Canon was a valued member, and to which on many successive St. John's Days he had duly discoursed in the church, were in the procession. Solemn marches were played on the way to the little old burial ground, where the remains were deposited among those of so many of his parishioners for whom he had performed the last rites. The church service here was read by the Bishop and Archdeacon, and the masonic by Rev V E Harris, chaplain of Acacia, and Grand Master McCoy.
Business in town was suspended and the shops were all closed during the funeral, by request of Mayor Curry.
This is the last will and Testament of me the Reverend George Townshend, Rector of the Parish of Amherst in the County of Cumberland, Province of Nova Scotia.
I hereby nominate and appoint my son Charles J. Townshend to be my Executor and direct him to collect and receive all sums of money debts due and assets whatsoever of or belonging to me, and to sell and dispose of as he may think best all securities for money, all lands or other assets whatsoever of or belonging to me; And it is my will that after payment of all debts due and owing by me and all expenses connected with the winding up of my estate, he shall equally divide the balance between my children Stewart, William, Flora, Medley and himself share and share alike.
AS WITNESS my hand and seal this 27th. day of September, A.D., 1894.
(Sgd) Geo.Townshend. L.S.
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said George Townshend in our presence and in presence of each other as his last will.
(Sgd) Geoffrey N. Main.
Jos. H. Douglas.
| Canon Rev George (1810 - 1895), the youngest son of Hon William Townshend and Flora Stewart, grandson of Richard Townshend and possible great-grandson of Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount He first married Marriane Kinnear (b.???? - 1837), sister of Judge Kinnear and had one daughter:
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