Point L’Herbert Community Church
Title
Point L’Herbert Community Church
Church Name
Point L’Herbert Community Church,
Church Association
N/A
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Shelburne County
Address
East Sable
Status
Active
Date
1906
Historical Information
On November 20, 1867, the first meeting was recorded to have been held at the home of John Lloyd with the intent of creating a Baptist congregation in East Sable River. Due to issues with transportation during the mid-nineteenth century, people in the East Sable River area wanted a place closer to them where they could attend worship services.
In 1878 the first meeting house was established in East Sable River; prior to this the congregation met in the Methodist church in the community as well as at the homes of the parishioners. This structure was the first East Sable River Baptist Church. The construction of the church was done by local carpenters, led by the son of Deacon Thomas and Mary Pierce and their relative Deacon Enos Pierce, who was a boat builder by trade. Due to their expertise with ship building much of the structural elements were comparable to those in the hull of a ship. The supporting beams in the rafters resembled those of the hull of a wooden ship. This building was located where the current East Sable River Cemetery is today.
During the first years of the twentieth century, in 1904, the building was reported to have gone into a state of disrepair such that it would be cheaper to build a new place of worship. In the following months a new church was constructed and dedicated on Sunday, September 9, 1906.
The building is not large; however, it is well appointed with architectural details. The style of this church is Gothic revival with an unusual, helmed bell tower. Originally topped with a modest conical spire, the tower is now capped with a lower hipped roof. It has small buttresses, lancet windows, and decorative shingle work. Along each side are three more arched windows, which also allow light in both floors of the tower. Three lancet windows topped with a rosette window appear on the front of the building. The rose window was removed for a time but replaced in 2003 with the original window, which was refurbished in memory of Ann Wolfe.
The interior of the building still has the original wood ceiling in and an exposed support structure. The pews that were first installed were initially arranged with the curved pews in the centre and then an aisle down either side of the room. The walls of the sanctuary, now paneled, are thought to have once been plastered. A two-tier circular platform at the front of the room contains seating on either side for a choir, an ornate pulpit, three chairs, and an organ on the higher level. On the lower level is the communion table and behind the platform are two lancet windows with curtains.
Information from Jacklin, D., Nickerson, D. W., & Walker, K. R. The churches of Shelburne County, 1765-1950. Shelburne County Genealogical Society: 2006.
In 1878 the first meeting house was established in East Sable River; prior to this the congregation met in the Methodist church in the community as well as at the homes of the parishioners. This structure was the first East Sable River Baptist Church. The construction of the church was done by local carpenters, led by the son of Deacon Thomas and Mary Pierce and their relative Deacon Enos Pierce, who was a boat builder by trade. Due to their expertise with ship building much of the structural elements were comparable to those in the hull of a ship. The supporting beams in the rafters resembled those of the hull of a wooden ship. This building was located where the current East Sable River Cemetery is today.
During the first years of the twentieth century, in 1904, the building was reported to have gone into a state of disrepair such that it would be cheaper to build a new place of worship. In the following months a new church was constructed and dedicated on Sunday, September 9, 1906.
The building is not large; however, it is well appointed with architectural details. The style of this church is Gothic revival with an unusual, helmed bell tower. Originally topped with a modest conical spire, the tower is now capped with a lower hipped roof. It has small buttresses, lancet windows, and decorative shingle work. Along each side are three more arched windows, which also allow light in both floors of the tower. Three lancet windows topped with a rosette window appear on the front of the building. The rose window was removed for a time but replaced in 2003 with the original window, which was refurbished in memory of Ann Wolfe.
The interior of the building still has the original wood ceiling in and an exposed support structure. The pews that were first installed were initially arranged with the curved pews in the centre and then an aisle down either side of the room. The walls of the sanctuary, now paneled, are thought to have once been plastered. A two-tier circular platform at the front of the room contains seating on either side for a choir, an ornate pulpit, three chairs, and an organ on the higher level. On the lower level is the communion table and behind the platform are two lancet windows with curtains.
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
“Point L’Herbert Community Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 2, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/216.