Municipally Registered Property

The United Baptist Church

Upper Woods Harbour, Nova Scotia

Also known as Central United Baptist Church

Front elevation, United Baptist Church, Woods Harbour, NS, 2008.

Front elevation, United Baptist Church, Woods Harbour, NS, 2008.

Photo: Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage,Province of Nova Scotia 2008

Recognized
1984
By
Local government

The register’s text, word for word

Description

The United Baptist Church, commonly known as the Central United Baptist Church, is located in Upper Woods Harbour, on the western side of Highway 3, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. The Neo-classical style church was given its heritage designation by the Municipality of Barrington on July 4, 1984 and applies to the church and lot.

Heritage value

The Central United Baptist Church is valued as a local landmark; for its role in the history of the community; and for its association with the history of the Baptist faith in Woods Harbour.

The Central United Baptist Church was built circa 1862 as a Free Will Baptist Church, in part due to the efforts of W.H. Richan, the first school superintendent in nearby Barrington Passage. Richan became an ordained Free Will Baptist minister in 1866. The building suffered a damaging fire in 1867, which also destroyed all of the first five years of the church’s records. Rev. W.W. Ashley, also a Free Will Baptist minister, was instrumental in repairing the damaged church. Ashley also founded the first temperance society in Woods Harbour. The church continues to function as a Baptist Church.

The large simple structure stands out on the costal terrain. The large central steeple was a navigational landmark for fishermen and sailors returning home. The traditional building has some basic Neo-classical elements giving it an air of refinement.

SourceMunicipality of the District of Barrington, Municipal Heritage Files, United Baptist Church

Character‑defining elements

Character-defining elements of the United Baptist Church include:

  • large wood framed structure;
  • gable roof with large overhang;
  • four large twelve-over-twelve wood framed windows on each side elevation toped with a fanlight in the Palladian style;
  • decorative sashes around the windows;
  • central tower on front elevation topped by a six-sided steeple;
  • fanlights on either side of tower allowing light into front entrance;
  • interior gallery is supported by decorative pediments of the

Neo-classical style.

End of the register’s text

Location

7029 Highway 3, Upper Woods Harbour, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

43.54266° N, 65.73406° 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.