Smiths Cove United Baptist Church

Title

Smiths Cove United Baptist Church

Church Name

Smiths Cove United Baptist Church

Church Association

Annapolis- Digby

Province

Nova Scotia

County

Digby

Address

43 N Old Post Road, Smiths Cove, N.S.

Status

Active

Date

Constructed circa 1885

Historical Information

In 1823, the Clements Church, which had consisted of the entire area of the township from Annapolis to the Joggins River, was divided into two separate congregations. This separation birthed the Second Clements Church. In 1838 a chapel (Smiths Cove Baptist Meeting House) was built by the people of Smiths Cove on land deeded by Daniel Sulis, at the fork of the Old and New Post Roads, and it was agreed the Methodists would be free to use the structure for their purposes as well.

The following year Digby County came into being, and the Second Clements Church became known as the Hillsburg Church. In 1842, 12 members withdrew from the Hillsburg Church at Bear River to form the Second Hillsburg Church. The First Hillsburg Church existed in Bear River, while the Second Hillsburg Church existed in Smiths Cove.

It is suspected that the division was concerning loyalty to their pastor, Rev. Henry Saunders, who resigned from First Hillsburg Church at Bear River and became pastor of the Clementsvale Church.

The Smiths Cove Baptist Church was officially incorporated in 1883. Shortly afterward the present edifice was built and it was dedicated in 1886. Church services were held in the Baptist Chapel until the dedication took place.

According to “The History of the Smiths Cove United Church, 1957”, in 1903 the Meeting House was given over to Home Division #169 of the Temperance Society on condition that if the division ceased to exist it would revert to the Second Hillsburg Baptist church again. The land on which the church was built was donated and deeded by John S. Thomas, who was one of the early clerks of the church.

Files

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Citation

“Smiths Cove United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed March 28, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/66.

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