South End Baptist Church

South End takes the first half of its name from the surrounding community of Southdale in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The church congregation was founded in 1954, and this early gathering of people was comprised of people from First Baptist Church of Dartmouth and some members of the surrounding community.  As they grew in number, the early charter members made plans to construct a house of worship which was dedicated on June 26, 1956– the date inscribed on the cornerstone of the building.

This church is like other churches of its time, built in the mid-century modern/modernism style. The medium sized spire on the medium pitched roof is an atypical architectural feature from this era. Large windows on the gable end of the structure are also an eye-catching feature of this structure. One of the notable features of this building, typical with churches of its timeframe, is the large, multi-colored stained-glass window centrally placed on the gable end that goes up to the peak of the roof. The exterior of the building is covered in red brick and vinyl siding, typical of churches of this era The roof is covered in black asphalt shingles. All materials appear to be original to when the building was constructed.  Another feature on the exterior of this building is how the steeple is positioned, causing the sides to form two triangles as the corners follow the slope of the roof.

The interior of the church appears to be relatively unchanged from its construction. The back wall behind the sanctuary’s pulpit is beautifully covered in stained wood sheets. The church still has its pews, a feature that is becoming more and more rare as churches opt to replace their pews with individual moveable seating. A significant feature of the interior is the stained laminated wood corner beams that supportf the vaulted ceiling. The South End Baptist Church also has a large recreational and office space, which is part of their main structure. 

Information provided by the church.