Raynardton Free Baptist Church
Title
Raynardton Free Baptist Church
Church Name
Raynardton Free Baptist Church
Church Association
N/A
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Yarmouth County
Address
1486 Hamilton Road, Raynardton, Nova Scotia
Status
Active
Date
Built 1897 - 1898
Historical Information
The Raynardton Free Baptist Church is a wood-frame building of Gothic Revival style influenced architecture, constructed during 1897 – 1898 in the village of Raynardton in the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
The Raynardton Free Baptist Church is valued as one of the few surviving Free Baptist Churches still extant in Nova Scotia; for its continued use as a church and for its Gothic Revival influenced architecture.
The Raynardton Free Baptist Church was built during 1897–1898, at a time when the Free Baptist denomination was still very active in Nova Scotia. At that time, there were more than a dozen Free Baptist churches spread throughout Yarmouth County alone, serving approximately eighteen hundred members. Prior to the building of this church, local meetings were held in the schoolhouse, but the need was felt for a better building and the decision was made to proceed with its construction. This proved to be one of the best built of the country church buildings in the county and is the largest of the remaining Free Baptist church buildings.
Materials for the building's construction came from widespread sources. A large part of the lumber came from another Free Baptist meeting house that was partially built in Central Kemptville, but for several reasons was not able to be completed and the lumber was hauled to Raynardton by oxen to help with this building. A Capt. John Blauvelt, while at sea, came upon an abandoned vessel and towed it to a seaport. Part of his reward for this act was the bricks, of English manufacture, which had been ballast in the ship and which he donated to the cause. Some of those bricks comprise the foundation of this church, an unusual foundation in the country districts of Yarmouth County.
During 1905-1906 three Baptist denominations, including the Free Baptists, joined to form the United Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces. The members of this church and two others in Yarmouth County, however, elected to retain their identity as Free Baptist congregations, which they have continued to the present day. Although this church was only used for occasional services for a number of years, a relatively recent revival of interest has resulted in more regular use of the building for services. A recent addition to the rear of the church has improved its accessibility and provided necessary facilities to insure its continued, regular use.
The Gothic Revival influenced architecture of the Raynardton Free Baptist Church is exemplified in its steeply pitched gable roof, its pointed arch windows and entrance and its wood frame construction. The pointed arch trim elements on the tower and steeple further
emphasize the Gothic Revival influence.
Information and images from Canada Historic Places.
The Raynardton Free Baptist Church is valued as one of the few surviving Free Baptist Churches still extant in Nova Scotia; for its continued use as a church and for its Gothic Revival influenced architecture.
The Raynardton Free Baptist Church was built during 1897–1898, at a time when the Free Baptist denomination was still very active in Nova Scotia. At that time, there were more than a dozen Free Baptist churches spread throughout Yarmouth County alone, serving approximately eighteen hundred members. Prior to the building of this church, local meetings were held in the schoolhouse, but the need was felt for a better building and the decision was made to proceed with its construction. This proved to be one of the best built of the country church buildings in the county and is the largest of the remaining Free Baptist church buildings.
Materials for the building's construction came from widespread sources. A large part of the lumber came from another Free Baptist meeting house that was partially built in Central Kemptville, but for several reasons was not able to be completed and the lumber was hauled to Raynardton by oxen to help with this building. A Capt. John Blauvelt, while at sea, came upon an abandoned vessel and towed it to a seaport. Part of his reward for this act was the bricks, of English manufacture, which had been ballast in the ship and which he donated to the cause. Some of those bricks comprise the foundation of this church, an unusual foundation in the country districts of Yarmouth County.
During 1905-1906 three Baptist denominations, including the Free Baptists, joined to form the United Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces. The members of this church and two others in Yarmouth County, however, elected to retain their identity as Free Baptist congregations, which they have continued to the present day. Although this church was only used for occasional services for a number of years, a relatively recent revival of interest has resulted in more regular use of the building for services. A recent addition to the rear of the church has improved its accessibility and provided necessary facilities to insure its continued, regular use.
The Gothic Revival influenced architecture of the Raynardton Free Baptist Church is exemplified in its steeply pitched gable roof, its pointed arch windows and entrance and its wood frame construction. The pointed arch trim elements on the tower and steeple further
emphasize the Gothic Revival influence.
Information and images from Canada Historic Places.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Raynardton Free Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 2, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/197.