West Dover United Baptist Church

The history of the West Dover Baptist Church goes at least as far back as a record of a registered deed, dated 1895. Not a lot is able to be learned about it prior to the building’s de-consecration as a place of worship, which likely occurred when the church sign was removed from the structure, sometime between 2011 and 2012. There had been deed transfers in both 2011 and 2012, and a record that the West Dover United Baptist Church had revoked its charity status in 2011, as per the Canada Gazette. The building is now privately owned. 

This Baptist Church is a prime example of the stylistic shift Baptist churches made from the symmetrical design of the meeting houses and gothic revival styles in the nineteenth century, to an unsymmetrical plan with side steeple, usually containing gothic detailing on the wood trim on the steeple and around the windows. This church is an early example of this stylistic shift in country Baptist church architecture. The steeple of the church has a small four-pointed roof, with a small vent to allow the sound of the bell to carry. There is a small entranceway centrally positioned on the gable end of the structure. The building has recently been covered with what appears to be a lightly colored vinyl siding and a grey metal roof. Both materials are not original to the building’s construction.

Information provided by the church and ‘Wooden Churches of Nova Scotia’ Facebook page.

Photo Credits – Michael G. Winters