New Cornwall Baptist Church, Formerly New Cornwall United Baptist Church
Title
New Cornwall Baptist Church, Formerly New Cornwall United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by Atlantic Baptist Archives - Churches by the Sea September 12, 1987.
Church Name
New Cornwall Baptist Church
Church Association
Lunenburg-Queens Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Lunenburg County
Address
2222 Cornwall Rd, Mahone Bay, NS
Status
Active
Date
Originally built 1849, current building built 1879
Historical Information
Settlement in the New Cornwall area started around 1805. In the early years of a congregation at New Cornwall, they were associated with the congregation at North West, which in 1856 allowed a dismissal request in order to organize a church of their own in New Cornwall.
However, a place of worship in New Cornwall appears to have been created prior to this event, around 1849, its site at Lower Cornwall, where it served as both a church and schoolhouse. It is likely that this building was constructed in the Meeting House style, which was typical of Baptist congregations around this time frame in Atlantic Canada. The Meeting House style is characterized by a 1 ½ storey wood-frame construction, with either one or two entranceways located on the gable end. One can tell a lot about the beliefs of a congregation by examining their architecture. Often when there are two doors, one located on each side of the front facade, one door was used by the men, and the other by the women. This building was destroyed by fire, and soon after the current (2023) building was constructed beginning in 1879.
The church that stands today (2023) is built on land given by Edmund Bruhm. The work of construction began in 1879; however, only the exterior, without the tower, was finished at this time. For more than 10 years the New Cornwall church facility remained in an unfinished state. In 1889, due to the work of Simeon Spidle and his brother-in-law Wellington Langille of Barss Corner, the interior was finished.
The original structure was also built in the Meeting House style, with Gothic Revival architectural elements, evident in the use of gothic pointed windows. This building features three straight point windows on either of the eave-side of the building, and one close to the peak on the gable end (front facade). This building has been added to and altered over the years, including the addition of an off-center tower, which was typical of its time in terms of style. In 1912 it was added and altered the overall look, size, and style of the building. At that time, a steel-alloy bell weighing 1,310 pounds from the foundry of C. S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio, was placed in the belfry.
The church added a basement in 1955, which included a recreational space and kitchen. The congregation also added an entryway in 2003..
This church used to be on a field with North West and Mahone Bay; however, it is now serviced by its own minister.
Information provided by M. Allen Gibson, "Churches by the Sea," Chronicle Herald, September 12, 1987.
However, a place of worship in New Cornwall appears to have been created prior to this event, around 1849, its site at Lower Cornwall, where it served as both a church and schoolhouse. It is likely that this building was constructed in the Meeting House style, which was typical of Baptist congregations around this time frame in Atlantic Canada. The Meeting House style is characterized by a 1 ½ storey wood-frame construction, with either one or two entranceways located on the gable end. One can tell a lot about the beliefs of a congregation by examining their architecture. Often when there are two doors, one located on each side of the front facade, one door was used by the men, and the other by the women. This building was destroyed by fire, and soon after the current (2023) building was constructed beginning in 1879.
The church that stands today (2023) is built on land given by Edmund Bruhm. The work of construction began in 1879; however, only the exterior, without the tower, was finished at this time. For more than 10 years the New Cornwall church facility remained in an unfinished state. In 1889, due to the work of Simeon Spidle and his brother-in-law Wellington Langille of Barss Corner, the interior was finished.
The original structure was also built in the Meeting House style, with Gothic Revival architectural elements, evident in the use of gothic pointed windows. This building features three straight point windows on either of the eave-side of the building, and one close to the peak on the gable end (front facade). This building has been added to and altered over the years, including the addition of an off-center tower, which was typical of its time in terms of style. In 1912 it was added and altered the overall look, size, and style of the building. At that time, a steel-alloy bell weighing 1,310 pounds from the foundry of C. S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio, was placed in the belfry.
The church added a basement in 1955, which included a recreational space and kitchen. The congregation also added an entryway in 2003..
This church used to be on a field with North West and Mahone Bay; however, it is now serviced by its own minister.
Information provided by M. Allen Gibson, "Churches by the Sea," Chronicle Herald, September 12, 1987.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “New Cornwall Baptist Church, Formerly New Cornwall United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 3, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/447.