The Present St. Nicholas Church is Planned
The plans for the present St. Nicholas Church were started at a congregation meeting on June 30, 1918 in the schoolroom. A committee was formed to oversee all matters having to do with the building of the new church.
The members were: Reverend A.E. Tulk, George Eustace (church Warden), James Cole (Church Warden) Secretary, Samuel Thorme, Richard Codner, William Codner, Peter Cole, Henry Cole, Robert Woodfine (Sexton), William A. Codner (Treasurer), Eli Thorne, William S. Codner and William Field.
There was a sub-committee of one man; namely Henry Cole who was to interview the male members of the congregation on the following three points:
1. How many sittings he would require in the new church
2. How much money would he be willing to pay towards the new church
3. How much money he would be able to pay in the fall
A letter was sent to Walter Bugden to ask him how much it would cost for him to draw up a plan for the new church. A note from the Church Registrar shows that the Committee for the new church must have been very busy because it shows receiving an amount of $960 from William A. Codner to be placed in an account with the Royal Bank of Canada. This money has been mainly raised through dances, picnics, sales, etc.
The congregation held a meeting on July 4th, 1920 and at this meeting it was proposed to build the New Church on the land of George Field Senior.
There was another Congregational Meeting on May 29th, 1921. It was at this meeting that the congregation voted 17 for and 17 against for the site of the New Church to be George Field’s land, the chairman had to break the tie.
The Congregational Meeting of September 23rd, 1923 accepted the plan for the New Church, proposed by Richard Codner and seconded by George Eustace, Junior.
It was passed at a meeting in the afternoon of July 13th, 1924 that the lumber for the New Church was to be bought from Roberts Brothers of Bay d’Espoir.
THE EVENING TELEGRAM, ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND, SEPTEMBER 15, 1924
Corner Stone of New Church is Laid
“Yesterday witnessed the first step towards the Erection of a New Church which the Church of England people of Torbay have been working towards for a long time, when the Corner Stone was laid with all due ceremony by Sir Joseph Outerbridge.
His Lordship the Bishop attended by Reverend Cannon Bolt, Reverend A.W. Tulk of Portugal Cove and Reverend Andrew Tulk of Pouch Cove were present. Among many other visitors were Sir Michael and Lady Cashin and Mr. H. Saunders. The Address was given by Bishop White. Offering for the Building Fund was laid on the Corner Stone. The Service closed with the Blessing by Bishop White.”
The Church is BuiltIt wasn’t until a meeting of the congregation on July 12th, 1925 that they accepted the terms of a Mr. David Marshall for the building of the New Church.
Mr. Marshall was employed to be in charge of the building of the church and foreman over all the men, plus he was a master carpenter as can be seen by the beautiful Alter and Pulpit which he built.
The Church was built with a lot of free labour plus some paid people who worked with Mr. Marshall to build the frame and all the interior including the seats. To give an idea of the value of buildings in those days, the congregation insured the church for $5000 on December 20th, 1925
Consecration of St. Nicholas Church
The Consecration of St. Nicholas Church, Torbay took place on Sunday, June 13th, 1926. His Lordship Bishop White performed the service, attended by Reverend H. L. Pike as Chaplain; also present for the service were A.E. Tulk, Rector, W. Wm. Tulk, Lay Reader and father of the Rector
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