Municipally Registered Property

Smith's Cove United Church

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia

Side Perspective, 2004

Side Perspective, 2004

Photo: Heritage Division, Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 2004

Built
1881–1885
Recognized
1993
By
Local government

The register’s text, word for word

Description

Smith's Cove United Church was originally built as a Methodist Church. It is a wooden church with a stone foundation and a steeply pitched roof. The central tower projects from the façade and has a center door, a stained glass window and tiered steeple. Both the church and the surrounding property are included in the heritage designation.

Heritage value

The heritage value of the Smith’s Cove United Church is tied to its history in the community. The church was originally built as a Methodist church between 1881 and 1885. Local resident Minerva Sulis was a strong proponent of the establishment of a Methodist church after she was refused communion at the local Baptist church. In 1925 the congregation voted to join the United Church of Canada and became known as the Smith’s Cove United Church. Presently the church serves as the offices for the Smith’s Cove Historical Society.

SourceBuilt Heritage Inventory, Office of the Municipality of the District of Digby.

Character‑defining elements

The character-defining elements of Smith's Cove United Church include:

  • form and massing;
  • common Gothic hood mould over all windows;
  • "V" pane at the top of all windows;
  • steeply pitched roof;
  • large steeple;
  • uniform slanted cornices;
  • An 1890 plaque in memory of a young man named Norman Poole who drowned in Smith's Cove;
  • original kerosene lamps used to light the church;
  • arched pews.

End of the register’s text

Location

660 Highway No.1, Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, B0S, Canada

44.61245° N, 65.70272° W

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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.