First Ragged Island Baptist Church
Title
First Ragged Island Baptist Church
Church Name
First Ragged Island Baptist Church
Church Association
N/A
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Shelburne County
Address
Osborne
Status
Alternative use
Date
1872-1873
Historical Information
The First Ragged Island United Baptist Church in Osborne, Shelburne County, has officially closed. The property and building now have a new owner.
This church was built in 1872-73 and the first worship service was held in November 1874. The pews were filled by entire families from nearby communities.
The high attendance and fellowship continued for many decades. Slowly, during the mid 1900s to the early 2000s, the congregations kept becoming smaller. Many young members and adherents moved away for higher education and employment and, as senior members passed away, there were few left to take on their responsibilities.
Finally, in late 2017, the five active members and one loyal adherent realized they couldn’t continue. Plans were organized to officially close their “beloved house of worship,” which had spanned numerous decades. The building is a wood frame structure with a steeply pitched roof. It has a centered tower with a mansard style belfry with four hipped roof dormers. The three classical style windows on either side of the building are topped with beautiful, graceful arches. There are arched windows on each side of the tower on the front gable end, and one above the other on the front of the tower. At the back of the building there is a small wooden addition. The eaves on this church return all the way to the walls on the tower. In the early days of the church, the pastorate included not only the congregation of the Osborne church, but also those in Allendale, East Green Harbour, and Rockland as well. In 2001 the pastorate consisted only of the churches in Osborne and Sable River. All pews and memorabilia inside have been removed and sold from the church. It is now used for storage purposes.
Information from Jacklin, D., Nickerson, D. W., & Walker, K. R. The churches of Shelburne County, 1765-1950. Shelburne County Genealogical Society: 2006.
This church was built in 1872-73 and the first worship service was held in November 1874. The pews were filled by entire families from nearby communities.
The high attendance and fellowship continued for many decades. Slowly, during the mid 1900s to the early 2000s, the congregations kept becoming smaller. Many young members and adherents moved away for higher education and employment and, as senior members passed away, there were few left to take on their responsibilities.
Finally, in late 2017, the five active members and one loyal adherent realized they couldn’t continue. Plans were organized to officially close their “beloved house of worship,” which had spanned numerous decades. The building is a wood frame structure with a steeply pitched roof. It has a centered tower with a mansard style belfry with four hipped roof dormers. The three classical style windows on either side of the building are topped with beautiful, graceful arches. There are arched windows on each side of the tower on the front gable end, and one above the other on the front of the tower. At the back of the building there is a small wooden addition. The eaves on this church return all the way to the walls on the tower. In the early days of the church, the pastorate included not only the congregation of the Osborne church, but also those in Allendale, East Green Harbour, and Rockland as well. In 2001 the pastorate consisted only of the churches in Osborne and Sable River. All pews and memorabilia inside have been removed and sold from the church. It is now used for storage purposes.
Information from Jacklin, D., Nickerson, D. W., & Walker, K. R. The churches of Shelburne County, 1765-1950. Shelburne County Genealogical Society: 2006.
Files
Collection
Citation
“First Ragged Island Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 2, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/212.