Independent Baptist Church

Independent Baptist Church

Independent Baptist Church

N/A

Nova Scotia

Shelburne County

2986 Main St, Clark's Harbour, N

Active

Built 1936

In 1935 Maxwell V. Bolser organized the Cape Sable Island Independent Baptist Church. The congregation was made up of those members of the United Baptist ‘Stone’ Church of Clark’s Harbour who disagreed with the views of the United Baptist Convention to which the stone church congregation belonged at the time. Reverend Bolser, who was the pastor of the stone church from 1932 until he withdrew in 1935, took many of the members with him. There were 35 members of the new congregation, including Reverend Bolser and his wife. The new independent building was erected on the southern end of town and dedicated in 1936 with Rev. Bolser staying until 1954. This pastor also led a congregation that met in Atlantic Hall, at the Hawk. This building is a single-story with a tiered effect given by the arrangement of the centered tower saddled on the portico and then rising over the roof. Double doors in the portico are topped with two small windows. The doors, once featuring two long, narrow windows in each, now have small fan shaped windows. An arched window above the portico is now covered, but the lancet windows on either side of the tower remain. The tower is capped with a low hipped roof. There are four lancet windows on either side of the building. In the sanctuary the walls are drywall above wood sheathed wainscoting. There are three rows of pews divided by two aisles. There is a long platform at the front of the room that holds the pulpit, seating for the choir and three chairs; and in front of the pulpit are four chairs and the communion table. Behind the choir is a picture of an open Bible painted directly on the wall. Behind the sanctuary there is space for classrooms and church functions. A large two-level single storey addition has been added to the left side of the building.

Information from book Jacklin, D., Nickerson, D. W., & Walker, K. R. The churches of Shelburne County, 1765-1950. Shelburne County Genealogical Society: 2006.