Mount Denson Baptist Church
Title
Mount Denson Baptist Church
Church Name
Mount Denson Baptist Church
Church Association
Eastern Valley Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Hants County
Address
Mount Denson
Status
Alternative Use
Date
Built 1896
Historical Information
Daniel E. Hatt still was an undergraduate student at Acadia University when, in 1895, he commenced a three-year pastorate at Hantsport.
Many members of his congregation, he found, lived at Mt. Denson where a Baptist work had existed from as early as January 13, 1830, when, in the old union meeting house located on the site of the present Mt. Denson cemetery, there was organized the body now known as the Hantsport Baptist Church. Mr. Hatt also found that the people of Mt. Denson were anxious to have their own place of worship. Indeed, they had, on November 11, 1892, inaugurated a building fund.
On September 16, 1896, the completed building was dedicated. It had cost about $900 and, at the time of the opening, a debt of only $50 remained. A contemporary newspaper described the afternoon and evening services of dedication as being well attended, ‘‘large numbers coming from the neighboring towns and villages.” The first couple to be married in the new church was Mr. and Mrs. Ensley MacDonald.
Mr. Hatt remained with the congregation for a year after his graduation and then moved to the United States for further study. Some years later, he became superintendent of Baptist missions in British Columbia. It also is worthy of note that he was a poet of some ability whose publications included at least four volumes of verse.
For over half a century, the Baptists at Mt. Denson, although maintaining their own building, continued to be members of the Hantsport church. Finally, however, it was noted that “the work of the church has evolved to the point that in the interest of efficiency and to meet the new challenges of the day the members are organizing themselves into an autonomous church.’’
Rev. J. William Scott was the pastor at the time and the formal organization took place on January 4, 1953. About 24 persons took letters of dismission from the Hantsport church to constitute themselves the Mt. Denson United Baptist Church. In September, 1963, Rev. Gordon L. Gower came to the Hantsport charge from a pastorate at Corner Brook, Newfoundland. A few years prior to his coming, a basement had been completed under the Mt. Denson church to provide vestry and classroom space.
Under Mr. Gower’s leadership, further changes were made. With John MacDonald as chairman, a church improvement committee renovated the interior at an expenditure almost three times the original cost of the structure. On October 3, 1965, the improved building was rededicated. On that occasion a new electric organ was presented by Mrs. Wilfred Myers of Newburg, New York, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William MacDonald.
In 2021/2022 the congregation of Mount Denson Baptist Church made the decision to sell their structure, and join for Sunday services at the Hantsport Baptist Church. Their structure was sold and is transforming into a private dwelling.
Information and photos courtesy of M. Allen Gibson, Churches By The Sea, Chronicle Herald, December 23, 1966, by and Hantsport and Area Historical Society.
Many members of his congregation, he found, lived at Mt. Denson where a Baptist work had existed from as early as January 13, 1830, when, in the old union meeting house located on the site of the present Mt. Denson cemetery, there was organized the body now known as the Hantsport Baptist Church. Mr. Hatt also found that the people of Mt. Denson were anxious to have their own place of worship. Indeed, they had, on November 11, 1892, inaugurated a building fund.
On September 16, 1896, the completed building was dedicated. It had cost about $900 and, at the time of the opening, a debt of only $50 remained. A contemporary newspaper described the afternoon and evening services of dedication as being well attended, ‘‘large numbers coming from the neighboring towns and villages.” The first couple to be married in the new church was Mr. and Mrs. Ensley MacDonald.
Mr. Hatt remained with the congregation for a year after his graduation and then moved to the United States for further study. Some years later, he became superintendent of Baptist missions in British Columbia. It also is worthy of note that he was a poet of some ability whose publications included at least four volumes of verse.
For over half a century, the Baptists at Mt. Denson, although maintaining their own building, continued to be members of the Hantsport church. Finally, however, it was noted that “the work of the church has evolved to the point that in the interest of efficiency and to meet the new challenges of the day the members are organizing themselves into an autonomous church.’’
Rev. J. William Scott was the pastor at the time and the formal organization took place on January 4, 1953. About 24 persons took letters of dismission from the Hantsport church to constitute themselves the Mt. Denson United Baptist Church. In September, 1963, Rev. Gordon L. Gower came to the Hantsport charge from a pastorate at Corner Brook, Newfoundland. A few years prior to his coming, a basement had been completed under the Mt. Denson church to provide vestry and classroom space.
Under Mr. Gower’s leadership, further changes were made. With John MacDonald as chairman, a church improvement committee renovated the interior at an expenditure almost three times the original cost of the structure. On October 3, 1965, the improved building was rededicated. On that occasion a new electric organ was presented by Mrs. Wilfred Myers of Newburg, New York, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William MacDonald.
In 2021/2022 the congregation of Mount Denson Baptist Church made the decision to sell their structure, and join for Sunday services at the Hantsport Baptist Church. Their structure was sold and is transforming into a private dwelling.
Information and photos courtesy of M. Allen Gibson, Churches By The Sea, Chronicle Herald, December 23, 1966, by and Hantsport and Area Historical Society.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Mount Denson Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 28, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/234.