In the western suburbs of Fredericton, St. Peter's stands along the south bank of the Saint John River with its cemetery backing on forest which, several metres further, backs on the river.
This bell is suspended within a little steel frame at the front corner of the church. Embossed on it are the words: "William Dobson Founder, Downham, Norfolk, England". This pretty much tells us who cast the bell, and where, but we somehow managed to miss the date on the bell. As I recall, it was dated in the early 1800s. This was the time that the William Dobson foundry was in operation.
The parish of Kingsclear was settled by the Loyalists in 1783. St. Peter's Anglican cemetery appears to predate the church by some twenty plus years, as the earliest known burial in the cemetery is that of Thomas B., youngest son of Lawrence Bradshaw Rainsford, Esq.,
who died October 12, 1815 at the age of 16 years. The next burial for which there is a headstone is that of John Payne, who died in 1837 at the age of 20 years. Another Payne, Rachel died in 1846 at the age of 60 years. The last known burial was that of Charles W. Dymond (1920-1981).
This little wood framed church presents an interesting façade when approached from the front as it has mock quoins on each corner of the building and on each corner of the bell tower, while the building, tower included, is clad in wood shingles. The tower ends not in a spire but in crenellations, or battlements on all sides.
The building stands on a crude rubble stone foundation with its cemetery on its east side, extending from the road in the front to forest at the rear.
St. Peter's Church was constructed in 1837 and opened for worship around Christmas time in 1838. St. Peter's, uniquely, has been in use for the worship of God the Holy Trinity ever since. It is the oldest church building, of any denomination, in the Fredericton area which has been in continual use since its opening over 160 years ago.
In the midst of subsistence farming, at a time of economic hardship and just after the first Loyalist generation had passed away, St. Peter's was constructed. The local population, including a significant contingent of the Black community, worked and erected St Peter's Church.
From St. Peter's