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Profiles on the history of Mahone Bay's Three Churches.2
The Union and Harmony Church as it stood in 1977 as a double house.1833
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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As people moved out of Lunenburg to live on their farms, they felt the need for their own places of worship. In the days before cars, it was a long way to travel to Lunenburg each Sunday to attend church. Few could afford new shoes, so most people walked barefoot as far as the town line where they would put their shoes back on and then continue on their way to church. The various religious communities co-operated to build this house, the Union and Harmony Church to share for Sunday worship.Years later, after they had built their own churches, this became a 'double house' shared by two families. At one time, a bootlegger lived here with his brewed, that is, family.
( Picture courtesy of The Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings, Parks Canada )
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The Union and Harmony church as a single family residence.1833
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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The Union and Harmony church as a single family residence.6
The steeple of Trinity United Church.1862
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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At the bottom of the hill is Trinity United Church. It was a Presbyterian church until 1925 when the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregationalist faiths joined together as the United Church of Canada, though this church made an interesting move before that.8
The Presbyterian Church sits in front of the Anglican Church in Bayview Cemetery.1885
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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From 1861 to 1885, the Presbyterian Church stood back to back with the Anglican Church ( 1833 ) at the top of the hill overlooking the 'Old Burying Ground at Mushamush'. Even though these churches enjoyed a beautiful view over Mahone Bay, there were drawbacks.10
A view of Mahone Bay and its Churches.1885
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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Most people walked to church. Now, you've seen the steep hill that the cemetery is located on. Winter conditions could leave that hill covered in ice and snow, and difficult to climb. Also, these churches were rather far from where people lived, compared to the Lutheran church, St. John's. The Lutherans had built a beautiful church right on the shore, an easy walk from the village. And as the modern business culture likes to remind us: Location, Location, Location. Both of the hillside congregations decided to move.12
The Presbyterian Church on blocks, being moved from Bayview Cemetery to the waterfront.1885
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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It took ten days and lots of men, horses, and logs to roll Trinity down to its present location. The Anglicans watched all this and decided that they would rather start from scratch, so they sold every pew and board from the original and built St. James, even closer to the village centre.14
Trinity United Church.1930
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
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