Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Alma

     The little white Anglican Church at the top of the hill on the Western Road in Alma has always been closely connected with the families of Alma.  Construction of the church commenced in 1888 and was consecrated on October 20, 1890.  

     The following is a list of the founding families - Barnett, Bearisto, Boyle, Cannon, Currie, Jeffery, McLellan, McNeill, Murphy, Simmonds, Smith and Vincent.  The region served by the church also included the following communities: Elmsdale, Lauretta, Montrose, St. Lawrence, Woodvale, etc.

 These are the earliest known photos of the church - taken possibly just before WWI.

     Stephen E. Jeffery was the first Warden of Holy Trinity Alma.  Over the years the family has been closely connected to the church with Stephen's descendants also serving as Wardens - ie.  his son Spurgeon Jeffery; grandsons George Jeffery and Stanford McNeill; great-grandson Wilbert Jeffery and today his great-great-grandson Carter W. Jeffery.

     Below is an article which appeared in the West Prince Graphic on September 1, 2004 telling of a similar story.

     In 2007 Holy Trinity Church and the Cemetery were entered into the P.E.I. Rural Beautification Contest and won prizes for improvements carried out the previous two years.

     The Cemetery was established in 1887 with the first burial of the infant daughter (Elizabeth) of Spurgeon & Dorcas (Collicutt) Jeffery followed not long after by the second burial of Elizabeth (Vincent) Smith, wife of William Smith (second warden of Holy Trinity).

     The 1-1/2 acre parcel of land the church sits on was bought from the John Currie family next door for twenty dollars.  Below is a document outlining the transaction dated the 26th of March 1887.  ( This document cf. Diocese of NS & PEI Archives, Halifax, NS )