82 ST. HELENA 



Dissent was introduced in 1847 by a Scotch Baptist 

 minister and soon spread, being popular amongst the 

 native population. 



In December, 1847, St. Helena was included in the See 

 of Cape Town. The Letters Patent stated : — 



We do by these our Letters Patent, under the great seal of our 

 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland erect, found, make, 

 ordain, and constitute our said Colony or settlement of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, with its dependencies, and our said Island of St. 

 Helena to be a Bishop's See and Diocese, and do fairly hereby 

 declare and ordain that the same shall be called the Bishopric of 

 Cape Town. And we, having confidence in the leading moral 

 probity and prudence of our well-beloved Robert Gray, Doctor in 

 Divinity, do name and appoint him to be ordained and consecrated 

 Bishop of the said See. 



As the Bishop did not reside on the island, an ordinance 

 was passed to determine the authority of the Governor of 

 St. Helena to grant marriage licences. 



On the death, in August, 1850, of Sir Patrick Ross, 

 Colonel Clark, officer commanding Royal Artillery, acted 

 as Governor until the arrival of Colonel (now Sir Thomas) 

 Gore Browne, C.B. He only remained three years, for 

 he was promoted to the Governorship of New Zealand. 

 He worked hard at St. Helena making changes in the civil 

 establishments to reduce expenditure. This policy has 

 been carried on from that time to the present day, much 

 to the detriment of the island. 



He built a gaol in Rupert's Valley, and tried to form a 

 village there, to do away with overcrowding in Jamestown. 

 A new road was cut to Rupert's, and water was carried to 

 the valley in iron pipes from over the Briars. 



Colonel Vigors took office on the departure of Governor 

 Gore Browne and family, and during his regime interments 

 were prohibited within the limits of Jamestown. 



Sir Edward Drummond Hay arrived on October 10, 

 1856. In the same year a flour mill was imported by 

 Government, and extensive alterations were begun at the 

 Batteries and Lines, Jamestown. The foundations were 

 dug out for St. John's Church, and in 1857 the corner-stone 

 was laid by Lady Drummond Hay, wife of the Governor. 

 This church was built mainly by the untiring devotion 

 and exertions of Lady Ross (widow of the late Governor, 



