Missionaries followed the whalers and fur traders. In the Eastern Arctic the Anglican Chuch was predominant although there were a few Roman Catholic Missions. The Reverand Edmund Peck established the first mission at Blacklead Island in Cumberland Sound in 1894. Using a system of phonetic symbols developed for the Cree Indians, he devised a system of writing for Inuktittut. The Syllabic system of writing that he introduced is still in use today. . Other missions were established throughout the Arctic during the early 1900's. Travelling by dog team to Inuit camps around the missions, Inuit were profoundly influenced by Christianity. Use of shamans and shamanistic beliefs were discouraged and many of the Inuit spiritual beliefs were lost. Most missions also provided education for the Inuit until the government built schools in the 1960's.
Until St Simon's Anglican Church and residence was built in the 1960's in Apex, the Anglican missionary from Lake Harbour provided services. In 1973 St Judes Anglican cathedral was built in the center of Iqaluit.
