Community Church Fishermans Harbour, formerly Little Hope United Baptist Church
Title
Community Church Fishermans Harbour, formerly Little Hope United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church.
Church Name
Community Church Fishermans Harbour, formerly Little Hope United Baptist Church
Church Association
Northeast Nova Baptist Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Guysborough County
Address
528 Fishermans Harbour Road, Guysborough, NS
Status
Inactive
Date
Built 1887
Historical Information
This congregation can trace its roots 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.
The congregation was organized on motion from E. J. Giffin and Alexander Robertson. There were initially 14 charter members, and the name chosen was “Little Hope,” referring to the size of the body, rather than the suggesting despair.
The site the church was built on was deeded by Zeba Hines, and land for the cemetery about a mile down the road came from George Binley.
There appears to have been little hope for this church, and although by 1890 the congregation numbered 23, the residents of nearby Port Bickerton lobbied to have their own building in the community. By 1895, with the construction of the Port Bickerton Baptist Church, the church's decline began.
This church structure has withstood the tests of time, and although not used, still holds infrequent services. The church is in rather precarious shape, with its future uncertain. It is one of the most unaltered and oldest Baptist churches still standing in this region of Nova Scotia. It is a pleasant blend of Classical and Gothic Revival styles, evident in the use of Gothic Revival windows on the eave-sides and the classical windows and wooden trim boards on the gable end, front facade, of the building. This church has been relatively unaltered, except for the installation of baseboard heaters, electricity, and carpet since its construction and provides a glimpse into days gone by. The church still has its original horsehair plaster walls on the interior, original pump organ, and glass paned windows.
The pews that are in the church are not original, and came from the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church and date from 1895.
The church still has its original wooden cedar shakes on the exterior, and is idyllically positioned overlooking Fishermans Harbour. The church greets everyone traveling through this community, and its unaltered state transports one into the 1890’s. This building is historically and architecturally significant, both to the Baptist presence in this region in Atlantic Canada and in how unchanged it is. Very few Baptist churches in this region still maintain, in good condition, the original horsehair plaster on the interior.
The church roof is in need of repair, and the asphalt shingles on the building are in bad condition, allowing water to infiltrate the structure, damaging the interior.
Information provided by the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church.
The congregation was organized on motion from E. J. Giffin and Alexander Robertson. There were initially 14 charter members, and the name chosen was “Little Hope,” referring to the size of the body, rather than the suggesting despair.
The site the church was built on was deeded by Zeba Hines, and land for the cemetery about a mile down the road came from George Binley.
There appears to have been little hope for this church, and although by 1890 the congregation numbered 23, the residents of nearby Port Bickerton lobbied to have their own building in the community. By 1895, with the construction of the Port Bickerton Baptist Church, the church's decline began.
This church structure has withstood the tests of time, and although not used, still holds infrequent services. The church is in rather precarious shape, with its future uncertain. It is one of the most unaltered and oldest Baptist churches still standing in this region of Nova Scotia. It is a pleasant blend of Classical and Gothic Revival styles, evident in the use of Gothic Revival windows on the eave-sides and the classical windows and wooden trim boards on the gable end, front facade, of the building. This church has been relatively unaltered, except for the installation of baseboard heaters, electricity, and carpet since its construction and provides a glimpse into days gone by. The church still has its original horsehair plaster walls on the interior, original pump organ, and glass paned windows.
The pews that are in the church are not original, and came from the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church and date from 1895.
The church still has its original wooden cedar shakes on the exterior, and is idyllically positioned overlooking Fishermans Harbour. The church greets everyone traveling through this community, and its unaltered state transports one into the 1890’s. This building is historically and architecturally significant, both to the Baptist presence in this region in Atlantic Canada and in how unchanged it is. Very few Baptist churches in this region still maintain, in good condition, the original horsehair plaster on the interior.
The church roof is in need of repair, and the asphalt shingles on the building are in bad condition, allowing water to infiltrate the structure, damaging the interior.
Information provided by the Port Bickerton United Baptist Church.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Community Church Fishermans Harbour, formerly Little Hope United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 1, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/461.