Groundswell Church, formerly First United Baptist Church, Truro
Title
Groundswell Church, formerly First United Baptist Church, Truro
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by Atlantic Baptist Archives - A History of First Baptist Church.
Church Name
First United Baptist Church, Truro
Church Association
Colchester-Pictou Baptist Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Colchester County
Address
759 Prince St, Truro, NS
Status
Active
Date
Built 1780, 1872
Historical Information
The building that houses the Groundswell Baptist Church was formerly known as the First United Baptist Church, Truro.
The construction of the first building to be referred to as the First Baptist Church, Truro, was approved in 1869 and by February 26 of that year the contract for the building was made with Robert Brown. This building was formally opened in 1872.
This building remained in use as the main part of the structure until it was torn down in the spring of 1957. This building was a prime example of a traditional shift in Baptist church architecture, that was moving away from towers centrally placed on the gable end. This church was built in the Gothic Revival style, evident in the use of Gothic windows on all facades of the building, most notably found on the gable end, near the peak, all with hooded eyebrow trim boards. This church had two towers, each set off to the transection between the gable end on the eave side of the building. The front facade was broken into 5 bays, evident in the placement of the main doors and separating pilaster boards.
Originally this building had a smaller vestry located on the rear left side, which was replaced by a larger vestry space in 1922, designed by Arthur Nichols of Truro.
In 1957, the “old church” was torn down, and replaced with the current sanctuary that is seen today (2023). The old vestry from 1922, is still used as the vestry and has just been ‘re-facaded’ with brick to match the “new church.” This church building is covered in a rough, red brick, and is designed in an asymmetrical design, featuring one tower placed on the left of the gable end.
This church was used by the First Baptist Church, Truro congregation until the congregation closed in 2021, when they gifted the building to Groundwell Church. This building is still used by the Groundwell Church.
Information provided by Atlantic Baptist Archives - A History of First Baptist Church.
The construction of the first building to be referred to as the First Baptist Church, Truro, was approved in 1869 and by February 26 of that year the contract for the building was made with Robert Brown. This building was formally opened in 1872.
This building remained in use as the main part of the structure until it was torn down in the spring of 1957. This building was a prime example of a traditional shift in Baptist church architecture, that was moving away from towers centrally placed on the gable end. This church was built in the Gothic Revival style, evident in the use of Gothic windows on all facades of the building, most notably found on the gable end, near the peak, all with hooded eyebrow trim boards. This church had two towers, each set off to the transection between the gable end on the eave side of the building. The front facade was broken into 5 bays, evident in the placement of the main doors and separating pilaster boards.
Originally this building had a smaller vestry located on the rear left side, which was replaced by a larger vestry space in 1922, designed by Arthur Nichols of Truro.
In 1957, the “old church” was torn down, and replaced with the current sanctuary that is seen today (2023). The old vestry from 1922, is still used as the vestry and has just been ‘re-facaded’ with brick to match the “new church.” This church building is covered in a rough, red brick, and is designed in an asymmetrical design, featuring one tower placed on the left of the gable end.
This church was used by the First Baptist Church, Truro congregation until the congregation closed in 2021, when they gifted the building to Groundwell Church. This building is still used by the Groundwell Church.
Information provided by Atlantic Baptist Archives - A History of First Baptist Church.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Groundswell Church, formerly First United Baptist Church, Truro,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 27, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/490.