Nova Scotia History

"175 Years: A Historical Profile of the Churches of Christ in Nova Scotia" 

by Paul Stevenson and Victor McCullough

(Written in 1986)

Preface

Unquestionably, the knowledge of God's Word is an important part of our spiritual roots, and a vital factor to our existence as churches of Christ. However, it is also good for us to be aware of the historical backgrounds and heritage of our congregations as they developed. 

This little booklet seeks to make people more aware of the history of our churches here in Nova Scotia. It was part of a booklet printed for the 1986 Maritime Christian Fellowship of churches, held at Johnston Christian Park, in South Range, Nova Scotia (August 1st -3rd). 

The information was compiled and the pictures supplied by Victor McCullough, minister of the Tiverton and Westport congregations. 

Hopefully your church folk will be interested in these historical profiles. Although their reasons for development and current existence is not spelled out in these few pages, please bear in mind our purpose as churches: to obey Christ's Great Commission to evangelize and to instruct all men for salvation, and to estab­lish churches after the simple pattern, found in the New Testament alone. May our churches continue strong and faithful in this purpose

Paul Stevenson (August 12, 1986)

A HISTORICAL PROFILE OF OUR NOVA SCOTIAN CHURCHES 

The fellowship of churches of Christ / Christian Churches of this province includes those of "ancient origin" of the Scotch Baptist back­ground of the 19th Century, along with recent 20th Century evangelistic efforts of brethren of the non-instrumental position and P.A.C.E.

The oldest of these congregations is the River John Church of Christ.

RIVER JOHN CHURCH OF CHRIST 

The oldest active Church of Christ in Canada, perhaps in North America, is in Nova Scotia. Although a struggle has been the way of life for this church, it has maintained the precious glimmer of life since it was established, one hundred and seventy-three years ago. 

James Murray, and his wife's sister, Isabella Shepherd were members of the Scotch Baptist's church at Foggyloan, Scotland, in 1809. 

In 1811, they landed in Pictou and lived there 2 years, moving to River John in the fall of 1813 and began the practice of worshipping with the breaking of bread. Formal organizat­ion came on June 18, 1815; and in 1855, there was an incorporation to become a "Congregation of Disciples of Christ". Donald Crawford stated River John as being "the oldest church in the provinces". 

Several more came from Scotland (1817 - 1825) and worshipped with this group's number, and in 1824 the church was able to help establish a small group at Wallace, N. S . Another was established, August,1829, in the home of John McNabb of MacLellan's Mountain. Also, during the period of 1818 - 1857, there was a positive influence from River John in a church meeting at Pictou. 

The history is full of sad stories: the long periods without preachers, sharing preachers with a Baptist church, and a Reformed Baptist minister's work among them - all led to grave identity problems. 

Recent history has seen the church survive in very small numbers, with a few conversions in each decade, and the pulpit serving and being served by Maritime Christian College. Many students have learned to preach in this precious old church. 

In a very denominational community, the "little Baptist church" is only a glimmer of light on the New Testament church. For a small number of people, the struggle has been worth it. The glimmer of light dispels darkness for those who allow it to show them the Way. 

SOUTHVILLE CHURCH OF CHRIST 

Donald Crawford of New Glasgow, P. E. I., came to the Southville area in the winter of 1852. He went to Rossway, then returned three weeks later to what was then Duck Pond Settlement. 

After speaking with Stephen Steele and John E. Wagner, he was invited to preach in the Wagner home, and the first Church of Christ in Digby County was organized. Stephen Steele was the first to be immersed, followed by John Wagner and two sons and two daughters during a later visit. Five more became obedient a few weeks later, and the church was set in order, with eleven charter members, and Brother Steele as the elected elder. Benjamin Wagner became the second elder in 1859. 

The building was erected in 1888, while J. A. Gates was minister (lVJr. & lVJrs. Gates are buried in Southville's cemetery), and completed, and dedicated in 1889 by W. H. Harding. In 1962, the Sunday School addition was built unto the back of the building. Around 1980 , three more classrooms were also added.  

Southville benefited from full-time ministers in its early years; but from 1912 to 1934, it maintained the Bible School and Lord's Supper with the encouragement of visiting preachers. This mother church (of the two other churches of the area) continues to spawn life in Christ. 

SOUTH RANGE CHURCH OF CHRIST 

Shortly after Donald Crawford preached around Digby County, Harris Greenlaw preached in the homes of South Range. 

Worship and the Lor􀀈s Supper were observed on Sundays, with Jesse Zeigler and Benjamin Mar­shall acting as elders, and Alex Marshall and Benjamin Sabean as deacons. 

The church was organized in 1876, but the idea of a building was not promoted until 1889, and land was donated by Jesse Zeigler. Thus, the construction began, and the building was used for the first time on December 12th, 1891. 

The congregation was reorganized December 19, after a week of meetings with H. A. DeVoe the evangelist. Additional evangelistic services were conducted over the next two weeks, again in January, and another week in April. In May of 1892, the Sunday School was begun. DeVoe provided encouragement and leadership for the early years. 

South Range shared a preacher with Southville whenever one was available full time; but much of the time struggled alone, being led by her own elders and deacons, separated by distance and poor roads from the folk at Southville. 

Faith and persistence saw the church continue to struggle, even during years without elders to guide her. Growth began in the years when one preacher served the three area churches. 

In 1977 - 78, the original building was re-mod­eled and enlarged, to provide more classrooms and worship seating. With the decision of the three churches in 1982 to each hire their own preacher, South Range's leadership guided her through a house-building program, in addition to helping fill their own preaching needs for a year. 

In 1983, they called their own prea­cher for the first time, and continue on their own to the present as the little white church building on a country road set off alone, but not lonely. 

TIVERTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

This church was organized in 1859, with elder Beecher Knowles and twenty-five members. The building was built very soon on land donated, by Mr. Wesley Outhouse. John Smith and Thomas Ossinger were elders around that time. 

Some better known persons who were present at the church's organization meeting included W. S. Patterson, Knowles, Garraty,Alexander Green­law, and Donald Crawford.

Crawfor􀀏s efforts in the area resulted in the first converts, in 1855, of a Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Margaret Cossaboom. Crawford had stayed at the home of John Smith, who was charged with this irregularity by Freeport Baptist Church, of which the Smiths were members. Mrs. Smith replied that in so doing (hosting Mr. Crawford) "they entertained angels unawares"! They were dismissed from Freeport Baptist Church .. 

Around 1950, while J. W. Derby was minister, the Sunday School addition was built unto the rear of the building. Over the years, changes have been made to the ceiling, interior walls, and the steeple and entrance remodelled. 

In the 1960's there was a temporary, informal separation from the Maritime Missionary Soc­iety. This resulted in considerable difficulties in this period. In the 70's, the formal withdrawal finally took place. With clear de­cisions, a divisive problem can be dealt with through love and forgiveness. 

WESTPORT CHURCH OF CHRIST 

Through the 1850's, Donald Crawford visited on Long and Brier Islands, and preached in West­port during this time. However, it was George Garraty who succeeded in seeing the church in Westport organized. This took place on Octo­ber 25th, 1859, after he had delivered thirty­ six discourses. 

There is little mention of elders in this cen­tury, and much of the time leadership has been that of the women. 

In 1974, Westport withdrew from the Maritime Christian Missionary Society, as well as from the All-Canada Committee, because of a resol­ution suggesting sale of the building, and the union with the nearest Anglican or United con­gregation. "Dying in Order to Live" was the title of that paper - a title which didn't meet with the approval of a church not willing yet to die. 

Except for a difficult period in the 1960' s , Tiverton and Westport have shared a preacher. 

A Sunday School addition was added unto their original building around 1950. Then in 1985, the house next door was purchased, to provide needed educational facilities: a sign that it still desires to grow for the future years. 

WEYMOUTH CHURCH OF CHRIST 

H. E. Wagner long had a dream for a church in Weymouth, as did numerous others. A number of families had moved from Danvers to Weymouth in business pursuits, becoming established resi­dents of the area. 

Transportation was a considerable problem, as roads were not plowed very well in winter and nearly impossible in the mud during spring. Many attended the Baptist or Methodist [United] churches during the difficult months, when it was hard to make their way the seven miles to Southville. 

The Weymouth church became a reality in 1950, after years of wishing, dreaming and planning. The congregation continued as an off-shoot of Southville until the new building was ready­ and dedicated on September 3rd, 1950, with an es­tablished membership. 

Digby County's three mainland churches shared a minister until 1982, with him living in the house at Weymouth. In 1968, these 3 churches withdrew from the Maritime Christian Mission­ary Society over open membership (the practice of accepting people as members without having been immersed), but have continued to grow in their own fellowship of the area, and through the M.C.F. , growing in a Maritime - wide family. 

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN TRURO

Early efforts to establish began in the 1950 when Harry B. Herring invited Ken Norris and William Weale to provide leadership in Truro, whenever possible. This effort continued for a number of years, but growth proved slow. 

A religious census of Truro was carried out in 1967 by M.C.C. students, under the leadership of Donald Stevenson, then the minister of the River John Church of Christ. He later came to help in the Truro work, until 1968. 

In 1972, A. C. Oliver and his family came from Texas, under the support of the Andrews Texas Church of Christ (non-instrumental). In 1974, Delbert Bradley came to assist the work until 1976. 

The congregation had been meeting in homes or schools and community halls throughout these early years. Land was purchased in 1977, and plans drawn up for a 40' x60' building, at an estimated cost of $72,000. This was completed in 1979, and a series of gospel meetings were begun on July 15th, with Robert Shank. 

Between 1972 and 1986, over thirty people were led to Christ and baptized into Him because of the influence of the Truro church. Although their number remain small, the church is both alive and well, and continues to seek the lost and to edify the saved. 

HALIFAX CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

The church in Halifax had existed only in the minds of the people of that Maritime city who envisioned a church of the New Testament plan. Many people had moved to the area in the past years from other parts of the Maritimes where they had been involved with similar churches. Finally, in answer to their prayers, Partners in Atlantic Canada Evangelism (P.A.C.E.) sent Fred Osborne to organize a congregation. The church was founded on October 4th, 1981, with brethren from churches in the three provinces coming together to witness this congregations birth. 

The congregation met in a school and in their homes during the first four years. This past year, this fledgling church undertook a large work of faith with the help of the brotherhood in purchasing property and constructing their own house of worship, at a cost of close to a quarter of a million dollars. 

Many of the people of the Maritimes saw recent church history in the making, by going to the old city and helping build a house of worship for a young church. 

The congregation looks with excitement to the future, and new challenges. Also, they have decided to build a house for their minister on an adjoining lot, as another example of their willingness to undertake burdens to establish New Testament Christianity in their port city.