Description of Historic Place

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.

Source: Built 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.