Clifton United Church

The church is valued as one of the oldest houses of worship used by the United Church of Canada in Prince Edward Island; for its well preserved Colonial Georgian style; and for its contribution to the community of Stratford.

The Methodist familes of the area, known then as Lot 48, originally travelled to Charlottetown to attend services. By 1820, they became part of the Charlottetown circuit of the Methodist Society and held their own classes or services. In 1835, a cemetery was established on the site on a small corner of land donated by Captain James Kelly. There were four burials recorded for 1836-1839.

By 1848, subscription donations began for the construction of the current building. It was dedicated in the Spring of 1849. It is not certain who the architect of the church was, but Isaac Smith may have been involved. He is noted for such PEI icons as Fanningbank, Province House, and the Point Prim Lighthouse. Smith was also a prominent Methodist. In 1848, he became a travelling agent for the Nova Scotia British and Foreign Bible Society, whose aim was to supply Bibles to those in the Atlantic region.

It is known that the carpenter for the project was Christopher Smith, while James Connell was the plasterer. The simplisitic style of the building exhibits many Colonial Georgian elements. The proportions of the church are symmetrical and the trim details are limited to the corner pilasters, the eave returns of the gable roof, and the caps and sills of the two over two windows.

Many of the early family names of Lot 48 are associated with the founding of this church, including Mason, Kelly, Farquharson, Bovyer, and Mutch. The great grandparents of former Newfoundland premier, Joey Smallwood, are interred in the church's cemetery.

Due to its well preserved architectural style, its ongoing historic associations to the United Church in PEI, and for its contribution to the community of Stratford, the Clifton United Church has been designated by the Province of PEI.