Bear Point United Baptist Church
Title
Bear Point United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
Church Name
Bear Point United Baptist Church
Church Association
Shelburne Association
Province
Nova Scotia
County
Shelburne County
Address
697 Lighthouse Route, Shag Harbour, NS
Status
Alternative Use
Date
Built 1877
Historical Information
The Bear Point Baptist congregation can trace its roots back to 1865, at which time they met in the Union Meeting House in the area, evident through the presence of records stating that Baptists were paying pew rents during this time. This Union Meeting House was built in the Meeting House style. The Meeting House style was typical of Baptist and Congregational congregations around this time frame in Atlantic Canada, due to its simplistic and rather quick-to-build design. 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 building would have been covered in either wooden clad boards, or cedar shakes, and had a roof covered in wooden shingles. Heating sources during this time consisted of either a wood or coal burning stove, with illumination within the building coming from either whale oil or kerosene oil lamps.
It was not until 1877 that the congregation decided to construct their own structure. Idyllically set at the junction of two roads, this church is a pleasant blend of Gothic Revival and Classical style. With its position geographically, one is able to see almost all facades of the building, from the road. Some of the most striking features of this church can be found on both the front facade and the eave-sides. The eave-sides boast grand, oversized, clear, glass, Gothic Revival windows, with ornate black and white trim boards, surrounding them. The positioning of the glass in these windows is quite striking, and features five columns with four horizontally positioned panes. The outermost panes are quite small, while the two inner panes are rather large. Another striking feature is the return eaves on the gable end (front facade), which feature a centrally placed tower, which protrudes only about three feet from the front facade, and does not rise above the peak of the roof. Given the size and style of this tower, it is likely that this church did not ever have a tower that rose above the peak of the roof.
A later addition of a vestry can be noticed at the rear of the building. This space contains a recreational and kitchen space. It is evidently an addition based on the difference of style, and lack of any architectural embellishments. It features a low-rising, one storey construction, with the base of this building being slightly above that of the main building.
Sometime during the church's history, the building was raised and put onto a poured concrete foundation. This church has been turned into a private dwelling.
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
It was not until 1877 that the congregation decided to construct their own structure. Idyllically set at the junction of two roads, this church is a pleasant blend of Gothic Revival and Classical style. With its position geographically, one is able to see almost all facades of the building, from the road. Some of the most striking features of this church can be found on both the front facade and the eave-sides. The eave-sides boast grand, oversized, clear, glass, Gothic Revival windows, with ornate black and white trim boards, surrounding them. The positioning of the glass in these windows is quite striking, and features five columns with four horizontally positioned panes. The outermost panes are quite small, while the two inner panes are rather large. Another striking feature is the return eaves on the gable end (front facade), which feature a centrally placed tower, which protrudes only about three feet from the front facade, and does not rise above the peak of the roof. Given the size and style of this tower, it is likely that this church did not ever have a tower that rose above the peak of the roof.
A later addition of a vestry can be noticed at the rear of the building. This space contains a recreational and kitchen space. It is evidently an addition based on the difference of style, and lack of any architectural embellishments. It features a low-rising, one storey construction, with the base of this building being slightly above that of the main building.
Sometime during the church's history, the building was raised and put onto a poured concrete foundation. This church has been turned into a private dwelling.
Information provided by the Atlantic Baptist Archives.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Bear Point United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 29, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/491.