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20. Edward Cridge Diary, 1853.(BCA) MS 0320.21. Edward Cridge to Hudson’sBay Company, London, August31, 1854. Application for vacantchaplain position. (HBCA) A.10/36 fo. 195d.22. A. Barclay to HermanMerivale, September 9, 1854.(BCA) GR 0332.23. Cridge Diary, 1854. (BCA) MS0320.24. A. Barclay to Frederick Peel,August 15, 1854. (BCA) GR 0332.25. Cridge Diary, 1854. (BCA) MS0320.26. A. Barclay to Sir GeorgeGrey, July 18, 1854. (BCA) GR0332.27. Elizabeth Cridge to theHudson’s Bay House, September228, 1854. (HBCA) A.10/36 fo.26328. Ship’s Logs (Princess Royal),1854-1855. Cridge sisterstravelled with Miss Emmaline Todand Miss Susan Pemberton.(HBCA) 2M107 (c1/975).29. Cridge Diary, 1854. (BCA) MS0320.Mrs. Edward CridgeBC Archives photo A01304in London who had been to Fort Victoria, includingHenry Kennedy, who had been taught by theReverend Robert Staines, and who was in England totrain as a missionary teacher at the Highbury TrainingInstitute. 22Could the Reverend Cridge settle all his affairsbefore the quickly approaching deadline? The newlyappointed chaplain had no doubt he would be ready.He had arranged with Mary that if he was selectedthey would marry September 14, 1854. Mary seemedto have no hesitation in agreeing to this proposal. Infact, after the sailing date was finally set, shesuggested they should forego their plannedhoneymoon to Devon. It was essential that the Cridgeparty sail on the Marquis ofBute, for there would notbe another vessel for atleast a year. The Governorand Committee felt a greatsense of urgency andworried that the colonywas suffering from the“suspension of all spiritualoffices,” a situationneeding immediateattention. 23 Just beforetheir wedding day thevicar announced that themarriage could not be heldat Christ Church as neitherparticipant was a residentof the district, both livingin West Ham village. Notto be fazed the ReverendCridge jumped into awedding carriage and,dashing to Doctor’sCommon, changed thelocation on the liscence toAll Saints AnglicanChurch in West Hamvillage and hastilyinformed his waiting wellwishersof the change.Friends andrelatives attended thewedding service at AllSaints Anglican Church.His good friend theReverend F.W. Davis,presided while Vicar Ramgave the bride away. Gifts of money seemed to be themost prevalent and the couple would put them togood use. 24 With the position now his, the ReverendEdward Cridge embraced the chance to embark on asix-month voyage as the newly appointed ministerof the district of Victoria and Chaplain to the Hudson’sBay Company. It would be a financially secureposition that would help take care of family debts andprovide a good quality of life. His contract was for afive-year term with the provision for a renewal and astipend for the chaplaincy along with a land glebe.He was allowed a free passage for himself and partyto Fort Victoria and back to England at the terminationof the contract if desired. Also included was an8 BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORY - Vol. 39 No. 1
“allowance” for serving as the minister for the Victoriaarea. 25 Later this agreement and the events of the daywould be the cause of this minister’s great anxietyand hardship. On accepting the position the ReverendCridge immediately had the Company send £50 peryear to a bank in Barnstaple, North Devon, throughhis sister Elizabeth. 26 These monies would help defraythe family debts and provide a little towards hissisters,’voyage in late 1855.After a whirlwind of activity the newly marriedcouple waved goodbye to their native land onSeptember 20, 1854. Edward was leaving his twosisters and his father and Mary was leaving hermother and sister. The sad news of John Cridge’sdeath came when Edward’s voyage was only halfover. Their journey followed the usual route of theday from England across the Atlantic sometimescarried by favourable winds, down the east coast ofSouth America and around Cape Horn, and puttinginto the Sandwich Islands for several weeks.Refreshed and well rested, the voyage continued tothe southern tip of Vancouver Island. When theyarrived, April 1, 1855, neither Edward or Mary dwelton the negative aspects of the sombre log-hewn fort,the muddy streets, noise and smells or the conditionsof their lodgings but accepted them gracefully.Services would be in the fort mess hall with theirliving quarters close by. This kind of first appearanceto others endeared the Cridges to them and was abeginning to good relationships with theircongregation and the community at large. Afterperforming services, providing for needs of thecommunity, and lodging in the fort for severalmonths, the parsonage was finally finished. Just afterthey moved in, Edward’s sisters arrived on thePrincess Royal. It was December 17 when the shipanchored in Royal Bay but they did not come ashoreuntil two days later due to foul weather. 27 With thisreunion the Cridge family had great cause for athankful and joyous first Christmas at Fort Victoria.The Reverend Edward Cridge displayed no fearof this outpost on the edge of the British Empire forhe believed in “the great clearness with wh [ich] ourheavenly father marked our path from the beginning,every step being made so plain that there was nomistaking.” 28 However, he also threw his lot in withthe Honourable Company, and as he found later eventhis powerful organization was unable to help him inhis hour of need. Yet he still believed his leap of faithwas justified and this belief would carry him throughmany dark times. •Fort Victoria, ca. 1850BC Archives photo A00903BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORY - Vol. 39 No. 1 9
Page 1 and 2: BCHF Prizes | Awards | Scholarships
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Page 5 and 6: son of Edward Griffin, the Rector o
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