Port Hilford United Baptist Church
Title
Port Hilford United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by the Port Hilford United Baptist Church
Church Name
Port Hilford United Baptist Church
Church Association
Northeast Nova Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Guysborough County
Address
2763 Highway 211, Sherbrooke, Guysborough County, NS
Status
Active
Date
Built 1896
Historical Information
The Port Hilford Baptist Church had its beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century, around 1854. One of the most influential and perhaps the first pastor to serve this congregation was the Rev. Henry Eagles, a native of Gaspereau, Nova Scotia, who began his work in Port Hilford in 1854. Prior to the congregation constructing their building in 1896, they met in the old IOOF (Independent Order of the Odd Fellows). Hall for many years, until it was decided to build a building solely for religious purposes.
This building is typical for its time in terms of size and style, and marks a transition in Baptist church architecture in Atlantic Canada. This shift moved away from a symmetrically designed building, often with a three bay facade on the gable end, and a tower centrally placed on the front facade, to an asymmetrical design with a tower placed on the side of the building. This building contains hints of Gothic Revival architecture, evident in the use of straight point windows on all sides of the building. This, along with the small bay window at the rear of the church, behind the pulpit, are features found in other Baptist churches in close proximity, such as the former Aspen Baptist Church.
The building still maintains many of its original features, such as a stained shiplap ceiling, interior mouldings, and original pews. Some of the most striking features of this building can be found on the interior, and the original relics it still holds from its past. The church has a central aisle which is accessible from the main foyer behind two original swinging doors, and also from a new wheelchair-accessible ramp near the front pulpit. An interesting fact about this church, that seems somewhat unusual, is that the bell is housed in the conical part of the bell tower, as opposed to many churches that have the bell located just below their spire, within the main tower. It appears that the conical part of the tower was added in 1899, or perhaps just the bell, based on an inscription in the area where the bell is, in gray paint, that reads “1899.”
In the 1980’s a poured concrete foundation and a basement were added to the church, providing for a recreational space, kitchen, and bathroom . On a quiet day the roaring sounds of the bay waters at Port Hilford resonate within the walls of this idyllically placed countryside Baptist church.
A prominent figure to come from this church was the Rev. Josephine Kinley Moore, who was the first woman to be ordained as a Baptist minister within the Convention after her studies at Acadia University.
The church belongs to the St. Mary’s Baptist Pastorate, which contains Port Hilford, Port Bickerton, and Sonora. The congregations of all three churches meet together for worship each Sunday at the facility designated on a schedule.
Information provided by the Port Hilford United Baptist Church
This building is typical for its time in terms of size and style, and marks a transition in Baptist church architecture in Atlantic Canada. This shift moved away from a symmetrically designed building, often with a three bay facade on the gable end, and a tower centrally placed on the front facade, to an asymmetrical design with a tower placed on the side of the building. This building contains hints of Gothic Revival architecture, evident in the use of straight point windows on all sides of the building. This, along with the small bay window at the rear of the church, behind the pulpit, are features found in other Baptist churches in close proximity, such as the former Aspen Baptist Church.
The building still maintains many of its original features, such as a stained shiplap ceiling, interior mouldings, and original pews. Some of the most striking features of this building can be found on the interior, and the original relics it still holds from its past. The church has a central aisle which is accessible from the main foyer behind two original swinging doors, and also from a new wheelchair-accessible ramp near the front pulpit. An interesting fact about this church, that seems somewhat unusual, is that the bell is housed in the conical part of the bell tower, as opposed to many churches that have the bell located just below their spire, within the main tower. It appears that the conical part of the tower was added in 1899, or perhaps just the bell, based on an inscription in the area where the bell is, in gray paint, that reads “1899.”
In the 1980’s a poured concrete foundation and a basement were added to the church, providing for a recreational space, kitchen, and bathroom . On a quiet day the roaring sounds of the bay waters at Port Hilford resonate within the walls of this idyllically placed countryside Baptist church.
A prominent figure to come from this church was the Rev. Josephine Kinley Moore, who was the first woman to be ordained as a Baptist minister within the Convention after her studies at Acadia University.
The church belongs to the St. Mary’s Baptist Pastorate, which contains Port Hilford, Port Bickerton, and Sonora. The congregations of all three churches meet together for worship each Sunday at the facility designated on a schedule.
Information provided by the Port Hilford United Baptist Church
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Port Hilford United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 4, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/455.