Mitchell Island Union Church
Title
Mitchell Island Union Church
Church Name
Mitchell Island Union Church
Church Association
N/A
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Cape Breton County
Address
2645 Point Edward Highway, Point Edward, NS
Status
Active
Date
Built circa 1866
Historical Information
The Mitchell Island Union Church is located on the southwest shore of the northwest arm of Sydney Harbour, in Point Edward, Nova Scotia. It is a small white church located by the side of the road, on a small island that is connected to the mainland by a road. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality designated the church, graveyard and land a municipal heritage property.
The Mitchell Island Church is valued for its role in the community, for its simple architecture, and for its associations with the history of the area. The church was constructed circa 1866 to support the religious activities of the several small communities in the area. Although a preacher of any denomination could use the church, it was a "preaching station" for the North Sydney Calvary Baptist Church and services were held every second Sunday afternoon and annual harvest services. The North Sydney Calvary Baptist Church supplied this region with a minister and services but was not formally joined with it nor was it part of their pastorate. The church can seat eighty people. It is a simple wooden structure, consisting of one main room and two small vestibule areas, which currently serve as furnace and coat rooms. Presently the church is used only for weddings and funerals and there is no formal congregation that has regular services of any denomination. The building is located on a small island that is named after a sailor who washed ashore here and who is buried in the graveyard. Currently the island is experiencing an erosion problem which is affecting the future of the site and may risk the structural integrity of the structure.
This church is typical in terms of style for its time. It is a great example in this region of Neo-classical Style church architecture. It is exemplified by traditional rectangular building from, medium-pitched gable roof and bell-capped roof. Originally this building likely had more architectural details and embellishments on the exterior but has had white vinyl siding placed on the sides of the building, covering the original cedar shakes, or cladding that would have been on the sides of the building. Due to its rather remote location, it is likely that builders of the structure were self taught, and their skills in building and design influenced their decisions with the layout of the structure.
Information provided by the church and by Canada Historic Places.
The Mitchell Island Church is valued for its role in the community, for its simple architecture, and for its associations with the history of the area. The church was constructed circa 1866 to support the religious activities of the several small communities in the area. Although a preacher of any denomination could use the church, it was a "preaching station" for the North Sydney Calvary Baptist Church and services were held every second Sunday afternoon and annual harvest services. The North Sydney Calvary Baptist Church supplied this region with a minister and services but was not formally joined with it nor was it part of their pastorate. The church can seat eighty people. It is a simple wooden structure, consisting of one main room and two small vestibule areas, which currently serve as furnace and coat rooms. Presently the church is used only for weddings and funerals and there is no formal congregation that has regular services of any denomination. The building is located on a small island that is named after a sailor who washed ashore here and who is buried in the graveyard. Currently the island is experiencing an erosion problem which is affecting the future of the site and may risk the structural integrity of the structure.
This church is typical in terms of style for its time. It is a great example in this region of Neo-classical Style church architecture. It is exemplified by traditional rectangular building from, medium-pitched gable roof and bell-capped roof. Originally this building likely had more architectural details and embellishments on the exterior but has had white vinyl siding placed on the sides of the building, covering the original cedar shakes, or cladding that would have been on the sides of the building. Due to its rather remote location, it is likely that builders of the structure were self taught, and their skills in building and design influenced their decisions with the layout of the structure.
Information provided by the church and by Canada Historic Places.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Mitchell Island Union Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 26, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/312.