Beginnings of the Catholic Church on Prince Edward Island and a Brief History of St. Dunstan’s Cathedral Basilica

The Catholic Church on Prince Edward Island dates from 1721 when missionary priests came from Fortress Loiusbourg, Île Royale (now known as Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia) to minister to the spiritual needs of the early French settlers. A small church was built at Port la Joye, an early French settlement located across the harborfrom Charlottetown.  The catholic church at that time, was part of the Diocese of Quebec.  This settlement, including the church, was destroyed during the English takeover of PEI (then known as Ile St Jean) in 1758 and most of the inhabitants were deported to France.

In 1772, religious persecution in Scotland prompted a number of Scottish Catholics to seek refuge in the New World. Many settled in Scotchfort, a community 20 kilometers east of Charlottetown.  One of the settlers’ sons remained in Scotland to become a priest.  In 1790, that son, Fr. Angus Bernard MacEachern joined his family in PEI.  The Bishop of Quebec granted Father MacEachern permission to minister to the catholic settlers both Scottish and French Acadian. Before long, his parish expanded to include all of PEI, the Magdalen Islands, New Brunswick, Cape Breton Island and the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia.  Fr. MacEachern traversed the vast territory by horse, snowshoe and boat. 

As the geographical area was vast and settlements were widespread, Father MacEachern crafted a small horse-drawn vessel that he used to carry his mass kit and vestments over small bodies of water and when fitted with runners in the winter, served as a sled.  The original vessel, his mass kit and his snowshoes are displayed inside the Basilica.

In 1812, the Bishop of Quebec visited Fr. MacEachern and the faithful in PEI.  After a very warm reception by the English civic leaders, the bishop resolved to establish a church in Charlottetown dedicated to St. Dunstan, a famous 10th century English saint, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Fr. MacEachern bought land with his own money and on it built a small wooden church in 1816.  

In 1829, Prince Edward Island became it's own diocese.  Father Angus Bernard MacEachern became the first Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown, and that small wooden church became its first cathedral. In 1843, this small church was replaced by a larger wooden cathedral.  This second church was visited by the Fathers of Confederation in1864.

In 1896, the cornerstone was laid for the third cathedral.  It would be the first to be built of stone. The new cathedral was a tribute to the growing Diocese of Charlottetown.  This stone Cathedral was built in Gothic style and in the form of a Latin cross with 200-foot twin spires.   However, 1913, just six years after the Cathedral's dedication, it was destroyed by fire.

The fourth and current cathedral was constructed between 1913 and 1919 from the walls of the burned former cathedral while World War I raged in Europe.  Inspired by St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, the builders procured the finest materials and craftsmanship to fashion an elegant English Gothic interior that far surpassed the original cathedral in magnificence. Bells similar in number and tone to those of St. Patrick’s Cathedral were installed in 1928.   One decade later, for the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlottetown, the Pope honored the enormous financial sacrifices Islanders made to resurrect this house of God from its ashes by granting St. Dunstan’s the title of Basilica. 

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