Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Colvile, Andrew Wedderburn to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 17 April 1853, CO 305:4, no. 4325, 263.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (1), Other documents (1).
Colvile writes to Newcastle for him to consider a design for a church proposed for Victoria; Colvile notes that construction-expenses have yet to be determined, and that, given the want
of other contractors on the Island, the church will have to be erected by “the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company.”
In the minutes, Blackwood notes the Colonial Office’s lack of experience in church design, yet, he approves
of the intention, and sites the agreement that the Government inherits “the buildings
&c” from the HBC, should the Crown “choose to resume possession of the Island,” once the grant to the HBC expires.
Colvile to Newcastle
Hudson's Bay House
April 17th 1853
My Lord Duke,
I have the honour to transmit for your Grace's consideration, a
design for a Church calculated to accommodate about 550 persons which it
is proposed to erect in the district of Victoria Vancouvers' Island.
No estimate of the expense having been forwarded to me, I am not
able to inform your Grace what the building will cost, but as it is
intended that it shall be of wood, and of simple construction, it will
not be very expensive.
I am not aware that there is any person on the Island in a
condition to contract for such a structure, it will therefore in all
probabilityhave
have to be erected by the servants of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and should you approve of the design I propose to give
directions that every possible economy be observed in its execution.
have to be erected by the servants of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and should you approve of the design I propose to give
directions that every possible economy be observed in its execution.
His Grace The Duke of Newcastle
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I am not aware whether the experience of this Office in Church building is sufficient to enable it to express any opinion on the design herewith sent for a Church at VanCouver's Island: but at any rate satisfaction may be expressed at the announced intention of the H.B.Co?
I am not aware whether the experience of this Office in Church building is sufficient to enable it to express any opinion on the design herewith sent for a Church at VanCouver's Island: but at any rate satisfaction may be expressed at the announced intention of the H.B.Co?
The reference to the expense of the Church is occasioned by the
agreement of Govt to take the buildings &c of the Hudson's Bay Co
off the Company's hands should the Govt choose to resume possession
of the Island when the Grant to the H.B.Co expires.
agreement of Govt to take the buildings &c of the Hudson's Bay Co
off the Company's hands should the Govt choose to resume possession
of the Island when the Grant to the H.B.Co expires.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Colvile, 23 April 1853, expressing
satisfaction at the intention to construct a church, and returning the
enclosure.