STs PETER AND PAUL CHURCH, BAY BULLS

This post has only the most tenuous link to St Patrick's and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't even know there was a link until I had already begun to look into this church's history. This post is really due to a comment made by my friend Edwena on my Facebook page.  Edwena's comment peeked my interest and I went scurrying off to find out about a church that I have visited so many times since my childhood but knew so little about.  Well I found some facts that I can only describe as delicious.  Not a word I have used before in respect of information but it seems apt for some of the things I have learned about this  lovely church and town.

Bay Bulls circa 1995

Bay Bulls is one of the oldest communities in Newfoundland.  Its first appearance on a map was on Thomas Hood's map in 1592. The name Bay Bulls seems to be a bit of an enigma with several derivations being suggested.  Bishop Howley attributes the name to Jersey Fishermen who called it Bay Boulle.

In those days, the European powers were all trying to expand their territories in the New World. (It wasn't really "new".  It was there all the time but they just didn't know about it.😏).  France and England were among the greediest of the lot and many wars ensued.  Today the wars between France and England continue - on the Football pitch! 

For several hundred years, Bay Bulls suffered perhaps more than its share of attacks and invasions.  Governor David Kirke fortified the harbour in 1638. Not to be outdone by their French and English neighbours, the Dutch, under De Ruyter, raided Bay Bulls in 1655. During the Nine Years War (1688-1697) Bay Bulls was attacked twice. In 1696, the Governor of Placentia, then in French hands, attacked the settlement from the sea. In 1697 d'Iberville marched overland from Placentia and attacked Bay Bulls. That must have been quite a hike.  It took nine days!

On St John's Day, 24 June 1762, Admiral deTernay landed 700 men at Bay Bulls.  They then marched on St John's.  In 1796, the French attempted to storm St John's.  Finding St John's too well defended, the French turned instead to Bay Bulls, which they attacked and burned.  This 1796 invasion was the last on Bay Bulls. 

The early residents of Bay Bulls must have been brave and resilient because, despite it all, they persevered. They, and their descendants, have made their community the beautiful and important place that it is today.

If you are like me, you have often seen the Catholic Church in Bay Bulls. Also, if you are like me, you know a few scraps of information about this church and its extraordinary gateposts.  However, you don't know as much as you should know.  Well, I have been doing some digging (not literally) and I have found some wonderful facts about the Church of Sts Peter and Paul.

Vicar Apostolic James O'Donel, later Bishop O'Donel, built the first church in Bay Bulls sometime before 1796. Later that year the church was destroyed by the French but it was rebuilt that same year. In 1831 Dean Patrick Cleary erected a church on the present site.  Then in 1890, the lovely church we see today was erected by Dean Nicholas Roche on the site of the 1831 church. 

Sts Peter and Paul Church is interesting  inside and out.  The inside architecture is unique.  While it has been updated to comply with the changes brought about by Vatican II, it still retains some pre-Council features.  In 1931 the parish installed a Casavant Organ. John O'Brien, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, tells me that the Church's Bell Tower contains nine bells, one huge bell and eight smaller chime bells. 

Interior view of Parish Church, circa 1995

The crucifix at the back of the church has its own special tale to tell.  I came across its picture while scrolling through the parish Facebook page and I am, to say the least, just blown away by its story. (That's another first for me. I have never, ever used that expression before!) This crucifix dates back to at least 1796 and it was in the chapel built by James O'Donel. When the French invaded Bay Bulls in 1796, they burned the church.  Some quick thinking person saved the crucifix by taking it to the woods to keep it safe from the marauding French.

Crucifix secreted in the woods in 1796

The crucifix has been on this site for almost 200 years. Having previously been in the 1831 church, the crucifix was  transferred to the present church when it opened in 1890.  It was lovingly placed at the back of the church where it remains, still cared for and treasured.

Now to those wonderful and unusual gateposts!  Their story begins with Fr Patrick O'Brien who was Parish Priest from 1924 to 1940.  

Patrick O'Brien was born at Bay Bulls in November 1859.  He was educated at his local parish schools and at St Bonaventure's College, St John's. He qualified as a teacher and spent about six years teaching in various places in Newfoundland.  In 1886 O'Brien began preparation for the priesthood and, on 24 June 1890, he was ordained a priest in All Hallows College Chapel, Dublin, Ireland.  He returned to Newfoundland shortly after. In 1924 Fr O'Brien was appointed Parish Priest of Sts Peter and Paul Parish, Bay Bulls.

Unique gateposts of the Catholic Church at Bay Bulls

Fr O'Brien decided to utilize four old cannons which were left over from the turbulent days of French/English hostilities.  He had them upended and used as gateposts at the entrance to the church grounds.  Two of the cannons, the smaller ones, were French, the larger ones  English. The larger cannons bear the cypher of King George III of England who reigned from 1760-1820.  

Sir Michael Patrick Cashin, businessman, politician and, briefly, Prime Minister of Newfoundland, was the local M H A. He was a Southern Shore Man, born and bred. Salvaging material from shipwrecks, of which there were plenty in the waters off Newfoundland, was the responsibility of Government officials, know as Wreck Commissioners.  At one time in his career, Cashin held just such a position. He actually earned the sobriquet of "King of the Wrecks". The Wreck Commissioners had agreements with local fishermen to save the cargoes and the spoils were split among the fishermen, owners and underwriters and, of course, the Wreck Commissioner. 

Bay Bulls and the Church as seen from the water,
circa 1995

A ship sailing from France to Quebec was wrecked off the Southern Shore. Four statues were salvaged from the ship.  The statues depicted were Saints Patrick, Peter, Paul and Therese.  Wreck Commissioner Cashin gifted the statues to Fr O'Brien. Fr O'Brien had the retrieved statues installed atop the cannon gateposts.  And there they sit to this very day!  Now, I ask you, are these facts delicious or not?

This should enable you to identify the four canonized saints of Bay Bulls on your next visit. As you stand facing the church, the Saint at the top of the first cannon is St Patrick holding the shamrock.  Moving on to the next and larger cannon, we have St Peter holding the keys. St Paul gazes out from the top of the next cannon. He is holding the sword.  Finally, St Therese of Lisieux is ensconced, very appropriately, on the French cannon.

The Canonized Saints, and visitors

Like so many of our other Parish Churches, Sts Peter and Paul came under threat from the debacle that lost so many of our beloved churches.  The people of Bay Bulls showed they had inherited the same resilience and determination as their forebears. They worked hard together and, fortunately, they were able to save their beloved Parish Church. Follow the work of the Parish of Sts Peter and Paul at https://www.facebook.com/PeterPaulParish/.

I know this post is longish but I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed discovering those great facts.  I send my thanks to my good friend, Edwena, for the impetus that got me going on this and to John O'Brien who supplied me with so much information about his parish church. 

Oh, I almost forgot - that link to our St Patrick's?  At one time young Fr Patrick O'Brien was a curate at St Patrick's!  I did tell you it was a tenuous link 😀.