Region 3 Northumbria

Region 3 - Diocesan website with list of parishes

Description of the Region
Northumbria covers most of eastern mainland Nova Scotia and the southwest tip of Cape Breton Island. Although quite large geographically, most of the area is not heavily populated. European settlers first began settling in the area to draw on the fisheries resource (Canso, Arichat, and later, around the coast from Liscomb to Mulgrave to Caribou on the mainland, and Cape Breton), emigrating from Scotland (Pictou) and other areas of western Europe, and later, growing up around the St. Frances Xavier University community in Antigonish and traditional industries such as coal (Stellarton, Westville), steel fabrication (Trenton), and forestry (Port Hawkesbury).

Traditional industries in the region have declined. In Canso, income from fishing has been greatly reduced, and the fish plant has closed and gone. In Pictou County, the last coal shaft mining operation closed with the Westray mine disaster in 1992. Several economic initiatives in the Port Hawkesbury area in the 1970's were not successful. On the whole, the population in the region is in decline, and many young people have begun careers in more urban centres, or out west. The population decline has been somewhat offset by tourists and people retiring in the area (they are “CFA – come from away”). There is, however, a vital rural and small town culture in the region.

Description of Parishes
There are presently six parish units in the region.

Strait-Chedabucto has four church buildings currently in use. This parish is mostly clustered on the Strait. It includes St. James’, Melford and St. Andrew’s, Mulgrave on the mainland. Holy Trinity, Port Hawkesbury is a relatively recently-built Anglican Church building, built in the 1961. St. John’s, Arichat, is a large and historic building, but the local Anglican population is presently very small. Arichat is legally its own parish. Arichat and Port Hawkesbury have been linked together for years. On the mainland, what was the parish of Mulgrave saw the closure and deconsecration of several small rural Church buildings, beginning in the late 1980's. The present combined parish of Strait-Chedabucto was formed in 2002.

Canso is a relatively isolated parish on the southeast corner of the mainland on a peninsula. There are presently six congregations. The towns found in the parish are Canso and Guysborough.

The Parish of Three Harbours is an amalgamation of three parishes which have worked together for many years. Country Harbour is a rural community in the direction of the eastern shore. Bayfield is a community on the north shore, east of Antigonish. St. Paul’s, Antigonish, is found in the heart of the university town. The rectory was originally in Bayfield, but the rector has lived in Antigonish since the mid-twentieth century.

The population of Antigonish is predominantly Roman Catholic. It is the see town to the Diocese of Antigonish, and St. F. X. University was founded by Roman Catholics as a centre for education.
The Parish of Liscomb-Port Bickerton is found on the eastern shore. The rectory is in the historic town of Sherbrooke. Liscomb-Port Bickerton has strong ties to the eastern shore region, but has recently become part of the region of Northumbria. There are presently four active congregations in the parish.

The Anglican Churches of Pictou County is a “federation” of four parishes working together. St. James’, Pictou, is the “mother church” of the region, and the largest building. St. Bees is located in Westville. Christ Church, Stellarton, has been nicknamed “the Miner’s Church”. The congregation of St. Alban’s, Thorburn is attached to Stellarton.

The Parish of St. George’s, New Glasgow was founded in the 1877. New Glasgow is the largest town in Pictou County, and has a commercial base.

There are particular features to every community and region, and Northumbria is no exception. In parts of the region there are strong Scottish Gaelic influences. New Glasgow has a Gaelic festival every summer. Some street signs in the Antigonish area are bilingual, English and Gaelic. A tradition of rural folk music has strong Gaelic influences.

St. Frances Xavier University is a vital part of the local economy. It began in Arichat, but moved to Antigonish. It is a typical Maritime university; most students are undergraduates.

There is a strong sense of justice and community support which has historically been part of the university. Fr. Moses Coady, a Roman Catholic priest, founded what is now known as the Coady International Institute in the 1940's. Students from developing countries come for six-month terms to help develop skills for economic co-operation and development in their home communities. Fr. Coady was also influential in starting the credit union movement in Canada.

Anticipating the Future
Like much of the diocese, Northumbria Region faces challenges for the provision of ministry, financial challenges, and challenges to engage in outreach and evangelization. God’s grace at work among us in the past is evident, and in continued co-operation with him, we anticipate continued work in carrying out ministry, and building the kingdom of God, in the future.