New Horizons Baptist Church is a
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
church in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
that was established by
Black Refugees
Black refugees were black people who escaped slavery in the United States during the War of 1812 and settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Trinidad. The term is used in Canada for those who settled in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They were t ...
in 1832. When the chapel was completed, black citizens of Halifax were reported to be proud because it was evidence that former slaves could establish their own institutions in Nova Scotia. Under the direction of
Richard Preston
Richard Preston (born August 5, 1954) is a writer for ''The New Yorker'' and bestselling author who has written books about infectious disease, bioterrorism, redwoods and other subjects, as well as fiction.
Biography
Preston was born in Cambri ...
, the church laid the foundation for social action to address the plight of
Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians (also known as African Nova Scotians and Afro-Nova Scotians) are Black Canadians whose ancestors primarily date back to the Colonial United States as slaves or freemen, later arriving in Nova Scotia, Canada, during the 18th ...
.
History
Preston and others established a network of socially active Black baptist churches throughout Nova Scotia, with the Halifax church being referred to as the "Mother Church." Five of these churches were established in
Halifax:
Preston (1842),
Beechville (1844), Hammonds Plains (1845), and another in
Africville (1849) and Dartmouth. From meetings held at the church, they also established the African Friendly Society, the African Abolition Society, and the
African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA). In the fight to end slavery in America, Preston stated:
:The time will come when slavery will be just one of our many travails. Our children and their children's children will mature to become indifferent toward climate and indifferent toward race. Then we will desire . . . Nay!, we will demand and we will be able to obtain our fair share of wealth, status and prestige, including political power. Our time will have come, and we will be ready . . . we must be.
The church was eventually renamed the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church (1892).
The Church survived the
Halifax Explosion
On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship collided with the Norwegian vessel in the waters of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The ''Mont-Blanc'', laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond ...
of 1917 and served as a temporary shelter for survivors for the rest of the winter. Soon after the explosion, Rev.
William A. White
William Andrew White II (June 16, 1874 – September 9, 1936) was a Canadian chaplain and military officer from Nova Scotia who was commissioned as the first black officer in the Canadian Army. He served in World War I as a military chaplain, the ...
worked at the church for 17 years until he died in 1936. In 1937,
William Pearly Oliver
William Pearly Oliver (February 11, 1912 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia – May 26, 1989 in Lucasville) worked at the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church for twenty-five years (1937–1962) and was instrumental in developing the four leading organizati ...
became the minister and by 1945 he and the church developed the
Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Black Nova Scotians (also known as African Nova Scotians and Afro-Nova Scotians) are Black Canadians whose ancestors primarily date back to the Colonial United States as slaves or freemen, later arriving in Nova Scotia, Canada, during the 18th a ...
. The Church was instrumental in supporting the case of
Viola Desmond
Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946, she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refu ...
through the courts in the first year Oliver was the minister. Oliver worked at the church for twenty-five years, until 1962.
Cornwallis Street has continued its history of social action through the years. The church has been led by visionary pastors committed to community uplift. For over 30 years the church ran a Hot Lunch Program to feed local school children. The children dubbed the church "The Dinner Church".
In 2005 the church was the subject of a three-episode television documentary. The design project renovated the church's lower hall as a dedicated space for Sunday School.
In 2007, Cornwallis Street called its first female pastor in the person of Rev. Rhonda Y. Britton, an American who was serving another AUBA church in New Glasgow, NS. Rev. Britton completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from
Acadia University
Acadia University is a public, predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada, with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level. The enabling legislation consists of the Acadia ...
in 2012 and continues to serve Cornwallis Street. Under Dr. Britton's leadership, Cornwallis Street began a Rites of Passage Program for youth 8-18 in an effort to address the growing violence plaguing the black community.
In 2009 Rev. Richard Preston was designated a person of national significance by Parks Canada. The commemorative plaque is mounted outside the church.
In September 2017, the church announced it would rename itself with a name that better reflects its values and identity as disciples of Jesus Christ. The leadership launched an initiative inviting members of its congregation to submit entries from which a new name would be chosen. In May 2018, the church congregation approved a renaming to "New Horizons Baptist Church."
Notable members
*
Richard Preston
Richard Preston (born August 5, 1954) is a writer for ''The New Yorker'' and bestselling author who has written books about infectious disease, bioterrorism, redwoods and other subjects, as well as fiction.
Biography
Preston was born in Cambri ...
*
William A. White
William Andrew White II (June 16, 1874 – September 9, 1936) was a Canadian chaplain and military officer from Nova Scotia who was commissioned as the first black officer in the Canadian Army. He served in World War I as a military chaplain, the ...
*
James Robinson Johnston
James Robinson Johnston (March 12, 1876 – March 3, 1915) was a Canadian lawyer and community leader.
Early life and education
Johnston was born in Halifax on March 12, 1876. He was the eldest of the five sons of William Johnston, a shoemak ...
*
Portia White
Portia May White (June 24, 1911February 13, 1968) was a Canadian contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame. Growing up as part of her father's church choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia, White ...
*
Viola Desmond
Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946, she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refu ...
*
John Burton (minister)
John Burton (1760–1838) was a Baptist minister in Nova Scotia and was one of the first to integrate black and white Nova Scotians into the same congregation.
*
William Pearly Oliver
William Pearly Oliver (February 11, 1912 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia – May 26, 1989 in Lucasville) worked at the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church for twenty-five years (1937–1962) and was instrumental in developing the four leading organizati ...
*
Robert Downey (boxer) Robert Downey may refer to:
* Robert Downey Sr. (1935–2021), American film director
* Robert Downey Jr. (born 1965), American actor
* Robert Downey (hurler) (born 1999), Irish hurler
See also
* Robert Downie (disambiguation)
{{Hndis, Downey, ...
Globe and Mail
/ref>
See also
*Black Nova Scotians
Black Nova Scotians (also known as African Nova Scotians and Afro-Nova Scotians) are Black Canadians whose ancestors primarily date back to the Colonial United States as slaves or freemen, later arriving in Nova Scotia, Canada, during the 18th ...
References
Links
African Baptist Association of Nova Scotia - History
{{Coord, 44, 39, 9.7, N, 63, 35, 1.2, W, type:landmark_region:CA_dim:31, display=title
Culture of Nova Scotia
Buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Baptist churches in Canada
Black Nova Scotians
Black Canadian organizations