Bethel United Baptist Church
Title
Bethel United Baptist Church
Church Name
Bethel United Baptist Church
Church Association
Halifax Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Halifax County
Address
316 Windmill Road, Dartmouth, NS
Status
Active
Date
Built 1949
Historical Information
Services for this congregation began in 1873, under the leadership of Rev. A. S. Hunt, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dartmouth. These services were held in private homes until fifteen families in the region decided the next logical step for the congregation would be to construct a place of worship. Members of the congregation sourced, milled, and assembled the lumber that formed the church, which was later dedicated in 1888. The work at Tuft’s Cove continue to prosper through the early years of the 20th century but had a devastating blow in December 1917 when the Halifax explosion occurred. This church building was completely destroyed. The Reverend W. B. Bezanson was pastor of the First Baptist Church Dartmouth, and as First Baptist was the mother church of Tuft’s Cove, he was also pastor there. With help from residents of the area plans for a new building at the Cove were completed and the new church was built on the old foundation of the first church. The dedication service for this church took place on October 30th, 1921. This building, built in 1921, still stands today but has been converted into a dwelling and no longer serves the congregation.
The Reverend Leon B. Wright became pastor in December 1947. It was under his leadership that the congregation realized the need for a larger sanctuary and more adequate facilities for the church to continue to grow. The decision was made to construct a new church in a nearby location. A lot of land at the corner of Windmill Road and Bethel Ave. was purchased from George Holmes. This church was erected in 1949 and was dedicated October 9 of that year.
The reasoning for the church’s name change from Tuft’s Cove Baptist Church to Bethel United Baptist Church is unknown, but many people believe it changed because of the amalgamation of outlying villages with Dartmouth.
This church has a steeply pitched roof, a large four-sided steeple positioned on the right corner of the structure, and a large gothic stained-glass window on the gable end. On each side of the building there are four gothic windows on the main structure. The belltower contains a bell, has a window on the right side on the main level, and includes the front doorway.
Information provided by the Bethel United Baptist Church.
The Reverend Leon B. Wright became pastor in December 1947. It was under his leadership that the congregation realized the need for a larger sanctuary and more adequate facilities for the church to continue to grow. The decision was made to construct a new church in a nearby location. A lot of land at the corner of Windmill Road and Bethel Ave. was purchased from George Holmes. This church was erected in 1949 and was dedicated October 9 of that year.
The reasoning for the church’s name change from Tuft’s Cove Baptist Church to Bethel United Baptist Church is unknown, but many people believe it changed because of the amalgamation of outlying villages with Dartmouth.
This church has a steeply pitched roof, a large four-sided steeple positioned on the right corner of the structure, and a large gothic stained-glass window on the gable end. On each side of the building there are four gothic windows on the main structure. The belltower contains a bell, has a window on the right side on the main level, and includes the front doorway.
Information provided by the Bethel United Baptist Church.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Bethel United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 6, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/236.