The Anglican minister, who served first at Bonavista in 1829 and then at St. Johns, made extensive journeys along the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts in 1830 and 1835. The present journal of his 1835 tour and his active involvement in the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the Temperance Society, church building and fund-raising, played a decisive role in the decision to create the diocese of Newfoundland and Bermuda in 1837, with Aubrey George Spencer being appointed the first bishop. Interestingly Wix left Newfoundland in poor health and in debt to the amount of 1300 pounds after having been seen in the company of a prostitute. "Aimed at possible supporters of the mission to Newfoundland, [Wixâs journal] contained many interesting comments on contemporary life. He was critical of the Roman Catholics of St. Johns, "who are excited to frequent breaches of the peace by the most seditious Romish priesthood" and contrasted their behaviour with that of the friendly Roman Catholics of Placentia. He lamented the state of communications, asserting that it cost 25s. to convey a letter from Trinity to St. Johnâs. He was shocked by the material, moral, and spiritual destitution which he encountered. On the Isle of Valen he found females dirty and almost naked, and performed baptisms in private houses because the mothers lacked clothes for churchgoing. One man in Fortune Bay had not seen a clergyman for 56 years. Always he had to compete with "grog ships". In The Bay of Islands he found profligacy, drunken orgies, and incest, and stated that "profanity is a dialect." His journalâs appeal for help to save Newfoundland from sinking into heathendom did much to convince the Church of England that a bishop was needed." (Frederick Jones, DCB)
Price history
Nov 10, 2022
€1.86