Union Church of Lake Charlotte

The Union Church of Lake Charlotte, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, was founded by a group of residents of the village of Lake Charlotte (then referred to as Lower Lakeville or Ship Harbour Lake), who first met to plan the building’s construction in 1896.

The church was constructed between approximately 1898 and 1901 and was opened for worship on May 26, 1901. It was initially called the Union Mission House, but the name was changed to Union Church in 1933. The church was built and intended to be used by members of different Christian denominations including Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Roman Catholics. It was primarily used by the Anglicans and Presbyterians and later by the United Church of Canada, which is currently the only denomination still using the church.

Money to erect and maintain the church building and grounds was raised through donations, subscriptions, collections, and various other means over the years such as picnics, suppers, pie and apron sales, garden parties, and card parties.

In 1984 the church building, and cemetery were taken over by the Lake Charlotte Union Church Cemetery Company. In 1994 a portion of the church was damaged by fire but it was repaired and subsequently rededicated on September 17, 1995. Union Church of Lake Charlotte, Halifax County, Nova Scotia.

This church was constructed in the Gothic Revival style, with a steeply pitched roof and front entrance centrally placed on the gable end. The entranceway juts out from the main body of the structure and has a Gothic Revival style window directly above the doors. The front façade of the building also has two windows of this style.

The number three plays a prominent role in Protestant architecture from this time, symbolizing “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. Along each side of the structure are three more of these Gothic Revival windows.

Information provided by MemoryNS.com and the church.

Second photo courtesy of Michael G. Winters.