Indian Harbour Community Hall, former Indian Harbour United Baptist Church
Title
Indian Harbour Community Hall, former Indian Harbour United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
Church Name
Indian Harbour Community Hall, former Indian Harbour United Baptist Church
Church Association
Halifax Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Halifax County
Address
35 & 29 Baptist Lane, Indian Harbour, HRM, NS
Status
Alternative Use
Date
Built 1843
Historical Information
The Indian Harbour Baptist Church congregation was formed around 1843, soon after construction on a building used solely for religious services was underway. Construction on the Indian Harbour Baptist Church was completed in 1843, making it the first church and religious group to serve this community.
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. This church has hints of Gothic Revival architectural elements, evident in the use of three gothic windows on each of the eave sides of the building. The building had one door centrally placed on the gable end, which was covered when a front addition included recreational space, a small kitchen area and closet. The interior of the church is rather plain, and still maintains (2023) many of its original architectural features including a central aisle, straight-back pews, low pulpit area, and stained tongue-and-groove boards on the curved ceiling. One of the most striking features of this church's interior is this curved ceiling on the interior of the church. Features such as this are often found in sea-side community Baptist churches in Atlantic Canada, suggesting that the skills obtained for making these curves in these community buildings, comes from ship making.
The church building still sits on its original block and stone foundations, and still maintains many of its original features on the exterior. Although the addition to the building somewhat detracts from the overall architectural and historical significance of the building, and was clearly added in the later twentieth or early twenty-first century, it makes the facility more usable.
This building stopped being used as a church sometime after 1991, and was then used as a community hall. In June of 2023, the building was put up for sale, and was sold later that summer.
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
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. This church has hints of Gothic Revival architectural elements, evident in the use of three gothic windows on each of the eave sides of the building. The building had one door centrally placed on the gable end, which was covered when a front addition included recreational space, a small kitchen area and closet. The interior of the church is rather plain, and still maintains (2023) many of its original architectural features including a central aisle, straight-back pews, low pulpit area, and stained tongue-and-groove boards on the curved ceiling. One of the most striking features of this church's interior is this curved ceiling on the interior of the church. Features such as this are often found in sea-side community Baptist churches in Atlantic Canada, suggesting that the skills obtained for making these curves in these community buildings, comes from ship making.
The church building still sits on its original block and stone foundations, and still maintains many of its original features on the exterior. Although the addition to the building somewhat detracts from the overall architectural and historical significance of the building, and was clearly added in the later twentieth or early twenty-first century, it makes the facility more usable.
This building stopped being used as a church sometime after 1991, and was then used as a community hall. In June of 2023, the building was put up for sale, and was sold later that summer.
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Indian Harbour Community Hall, former Indian Harbour United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 28, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/454.