Zion Baptist Church, Yarmouth
Title
Zion Baptist Church, Yarmouth
Church Name
Zion Baptist Church, Yarmouth
Church Association
Yarmouth Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Yarmouth County
Address
27 Parade Street, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Status
Demolished June 2014
Date
Built 1895-1896
Historical Information
Zion Baptist Church was large Queen Anne Revival style building constructed in 1895-1896 of brick and stone. It was located on Parade Street, near the central business district and abutting the Collins Heritage Conservation District in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Zion Baptist Church was valued as the spiritual home for its congregation since 1896. Its predecessor, Cape Forchu Meeting House, was the second church to be built in the Township of Yarmouth and was located at the present site of the War Memorial and Park on Main Street.
According to Rev. J. R. Campbell in ‘A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia’ (1876): “The raising of the frame was begun on the 27th and was completed on the 28th of July 1784. The finishing of this house was slow. There was no glass in it till 1790; and in 1791, there were no seats in it, excepting rough boards laid down loosely, no pews, and no pulpit. The principle upon which, necessarily, work of this kind was done, was essentially ‘pay and go’. There were no banks to discount; nor was the principle of mortgaging practicable.” Various additions were made to the building as finances allowed, and it was finally opened for worship in 1841 and served the congregation until 1894 when the building was sold. The last service in their original church building was held on May 31, 1896, and it was finally demolished in 1906.
Construction of the new Zion Baptist Church began in February 1895 and was completed by June 7, 1896, when the dedication service was held, conducted by its first pastor, Rev. J. H. Foshay and clerical dignitaries from other parts of the province, with a large crowd in
attendance. Its relatively speedy construction was, no doubt, enabled by the significantly increased wealth of many of the inhabitants of the town, which was in its heyday as a world-renowned centre of shipping. Built in the Queen Anne Revival style, the building is constructed
of brick and stone. The large art glass windows were of note at the time the church was completed. One large stained-glass window was removed from the east side of the building, the castellation was removed from the centre tower, a wheelchair ramp was added on the northeast corner and some interior changes were made.
The church was deregistered as a heritage property in the 2010’s and later demolished June 2014.
Information and images from Canada Historic Places.
According to Rev. J. R. Campbell in ‘A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia’ (1876): “The raising of the frame was begun on the 27th and was completed on the 28th of July 1784. The finishing of this house was slow. There was no glass in it till 1790; and in 1791, there were no seats in it, excepting rough boards laid down loosely, no pews, and no pulpit. The principle upon which, necessarily, work of this kind was done, was essentially ‘pay and go’. There were no banks to discount; nor was the principle of mortgaging practicable.” Various additions were made to the building as finances allowed, and it was finally opened for worship in 1841 and served the congregation until 1894 when the building was sold. The last service in their original church building was held on May 31, 1896, and it was finally demolished in 1906.
Construction of the new Zion Baptist Church began in February 1895 and was completed by June 7, 1896, when the dedication service was held, conducted by its first pastor, Rev. J. H. Foshay and clerical dignitaries from other parts of the province, with a large crowd in
attendance. Its relatively speedy construction was, no doubt, enabled by the significantly increased wealth of many of the inhabitants of the town, which was in its heyday as a world-renowned centre of shipping. Built in the Queen Anne Revival style, the building is constructed
of brick and stone. The large art glass windows were of note at the time the church was completed. One large stained-glass window was removed from the east side of the building, the castellation was removed from the centre tower, a wheelchair ramp was added on the northeast corner and some interior changes were made.
The church was deregistered as a heritage property in the 2010’s and later demolished June 2014.
Information and images from Canada Historic Places.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Zion Baptist Church, Yarmouth,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 24, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/196.