Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church
Title
Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by the Port Bickerton and Sonora Baptist Churches.
Church Name
Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church
Church Association
Independent
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Guysborough County
Address
11 Port Bickerton Village Rd, Sherbrooke, NS
Status
Inactive
Date
Built circa 1955
Historical Information
The Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly known as the Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church, was formed in the 1950’s, due to mixed feelings about a pastor. There was a split from both the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church and the Sonora United Baptist Church. This led to the formation of Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church, in Port Bickerton and Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church in Sonora, both of which were formed with a pastorate of their own.
Although they are independent, memberships from this congregation can trace their lineage back to the original Baptist meeting house built in Indian Harbour (Port Hilford) in 1845, and later another Meeting House built along the Saint Mary’s River in 1846. Along with these buildings it can also trace its founding members from the Little Hope Baptist Church, in Fishermans Harbour.
This church structure is just a stone's-throw from the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church. It resembles a church structure that is typically associated with churches from an earlier period in Baptist church architecture, around the late-nineteenth to early twentieth century. This period saw Baptist congregations moving away from a symmetrically designed church, often with a three bay facade and centrally placed tower on the gable end, to one that was asymmetrical, with a tower and main entrance located on the side of the building. This church maintains many of its original architectural embellishments on the exterior of the building. The building remains relatively unchanged since its construction. On the left side of the building there is a low-rising steeple, with a small wooden crown on the top, made out of two-by-fours. The building is covered in white vinyl siding, which appears to be original to the building. On the gable end of the building, which faces the road, is a three-tiered ornate, orange, set of Gothic Revival stained glass windows, centrally placed. On each of the eave-sides of the building there are more classical style windows, with the upper three panes being stained glass as well. The roof is covered in black asphalt shingles.
Services are no longer held at this church, and the membership is very low. The building's future as a church and community facility are uncertain (2023).
Information provided by the Port Bickerton and Sonora Baptist Churches.
Although they are independent, memberships from this congregation can trace their lineage back to the original Baptist meeting house built in Indian Harbour (Port Hilford) in 1845, and later another Meeting House built along the Saint Mary’s River in 1846. Along with these buildings it can also trace its founding members from the Little Hope Baptist Church, in Fishermans Harbour.
This church structure is just a stone's-throw from the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church. It resembles a church structure that is typically associated with churches from an earlier period in Baptist church architecture, around the late-nineteenth to early twentieth century. This period saw Baptist congregations moving away from a symmetrically designed church, often with a three bay facade and centrally placed tower on the gable end, to one that was asymmetrical, with a tower and main entrance located on the side of the building. This church maintains many of its original architectural embellishments on the exterior of the building. The building remains relatively unchanged since its construction. On the left side of the building there is a low-rising steeple, with a small wooden crown on the top, made out of two-by-fours. The building is covered in white vinyl siding, which appears to be original to the building. On the gable end of the building, which faces the road, is a three-tiered ornate, orange, set of Gothic Revival stained glass windows, centrally placed. On each of the eave-sides of the building there are more classical style windows, with the upper three panes being stained glass as well. The roof is covered in black asphalt shingles.
Services are no longer held at this church, and the membership is very low. The building's future as a church and community facility are uncertain (2023).
Information provided by the Port Bickerton and Sonora Baptist Churches.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Gospel Light Baptist Church, formerly Calvary Faith Independent Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 1, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/460.