Central Port Mouton United Baptist Church
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Historical Information
The first church in Port Mouton was built by Free Baptists circa 1842. It was given to the congregation by Gamaliel Gardner and converted into a Meeting House, a common style among Protestant congregations in early to mid-nineteenth century Atlantic Canada. This style is often characterized by its small and rather plain facility, with no steeple, and gothic embellishments. The front entrance was often on the gable end, with either two entrances, one on the left and right sides of the front façade, one meant for the men and the other for women; or a centrally placed doorway.
It appears that the congregation was unhappy with this structure and later, in 1866 constructed their current (2022) structure. According to a second deed in Liverpool, dated May 18, 1866, a lot for the second church and a burial ground were sold to the trustees of the church for $30. The church constructed on this spot was referred to as the “Free Christian Baptist Church.”
Many of the logs used in the construction of this structure were hauled by Henry Wagner and his oxen from Black Point or from Wagner’s mill. Community members came together to construct and design this church. None had formal training; they just using the skills they acquired from years in their respected trades. Under the ministry of Rev. Theodore Crowell, the church was dedicated on January 1, 1866.
This church has remained relatively unaltered on its exterior since its construction. On either side of the church are three long classical style windows. The front façade has three bays, with a centrally placed tower on the gable end. On the corners of the building are pilaster boards, resembling pillars. There are two more of these rectangular windows on either side of the tower, as well as a window on either side of the tower. Near the top of the tower, there are unique rounded trim boards, making the tower appear to have a rounded look. The octagonal, cone-shaped belfry is the most striking feature of this structure and contains a bell.
Information proved by the church.
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