Description of Historic Place

Geddie Memorial Church is a maritime vernacular meeting house style church with Neo-Classical details located in the community of Springbrook.

Heritage Value

Geddie Memorial Church is valued for its age, architectural style, and for its associations with the Presbyterian church and Rev. John Geddie.

A Presbyterian congregation was established in the Springbrook area in 1810. Geddie Memorial Church was built in 1836-1837 by James Clark assisted by local carpenters. This church replaced an earlier log structure which was constructed at nearby Yankee Hill by Rev. John Keir. The land for the church was provided by the Anderson family, early Scottish settlers in the area, and the church was first known as Anderson's Church.

The church was later renamed in honour of Scottish-born, Nova Scotia raised, Rev. John Geddie (1815-1872) who was ordained and inducted into the pastoral charge of Cavendish and New London at Geddie Memorial Church in March 1838. Rev. Geddie continued to serve the charge until 1845 when he resigned to travel to Aneiteum, New Hebrides where he and his family conducted missionary work for over twenty years. Several artifacts pertaining to Geddie are displayed in the church.

Geddie Memorial Church has been well-preserved and remains much as it was built. Its clean, simple lines and windows have been retained. Some interior changes were made in 1904 and a free-standing bell tower was built in 1905 by John Warren, designed by Major Schurman.

Located in the North Shore community of Springbook, overlooking the New London Bay, the Geddie Memorial Church continues to be an important landmark in its community.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, Department of Tourism and Culture, Charlottetown, PE
File #: 4310-20/G9

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of the church is shown in the following character-defining elements:
- the overall massing of the building
- the roof pitch
- the placement and size of the windows with twelve-over-eight pane wooden sash windows
- the placement and size of the coloured-glass twelve-over-twelve pane wooden sash windows on the north elevation
- the enclosed two-storey porch with four-over-four and nine-over-six pane wooden sash windows
- the wood panel entrance doors
- the wood-shingled bell tower with eave brackets and decorative shingles and trim
- its location next to the Geddie Memorial Cemetery