Simpsons Corner Union Church

Built in 1897, Simpsons Corner Union Church is a small Greek Revival building located in Simpsons Corner, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, and has been a Municipally Registered Heritage Property in the County of Lunenburg since 2006.

Simpsons Corner Union Church is valued for its unique Greek Revival architecture, method of construction and social history within the community.

Built with a Temple-style layout, with a central bell tower and symmetrical design, the building includes several features common to the Greek Revival such as corner boards designed as Greek pilasters. Notably the church does not have Gothic Revival elements such as arch windows common in other Greek Revival churches in the county, making it unique.

The history of the construction of the church also adds to its value. Rather than hiring local builders, as had become more common near the turn of the century, the church was built in a more traditional way: by members of the community under the direction of two appointed chief carpenters; Esli Woodworth and James Hyson. The church has changed little since its construction. Historical elements such as the original stove pipe supports and visible tool marks on many parts of the building, including the windowsills, which were shaped and formed using a broadaxe, reveal the history of the building’s use and construction.

The building is also valued for its role in the history of the community of Simpsons Corner. It was used by several local congregations including Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, Methodist and Congregationalist (the latter two forming a United Church of Canada presence after 1925) throughout its period of active service. While the church itself is no longer used for regular worship services, special services are occasionally conducted in the building.

The church also contains a unique second storey. A community hall was built over the chapel in a loft with a separate entrance on the side of the building. The hall served the community as a general gathering place for social events hosted by the Community Club, which later constructed a larger building across from the church. The church’s original reed organ remains on the upper hall stage.

Source: Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, Heritage Property Book 2 Site 8.