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 St. Luke's Anglican Church - Annapolis Royal, NS Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 44° 44.562 W 065° 31.042
20T E 300706 N 4957451
This is another of the two century old churches in the Annapolis Valley. Being the nearest Anglican Church to Fort Anne, it was the designated garrison church until 1854, when the last of the soldiers departed.
Waymark Code: WMPGAT
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/27/2015
Views: 1
Though the church was constructed and in service in 1822, it was not completed to the extent we see it today until 1874. It was built to replace an earlier church, built in 1789, which had fallen into a bad state of repair. Originally built in the meeting house style of the time, the square bell tower with octagonal belfry and tall, slender steeple were not added until 1837. In 1874 a chancel and sanctuary were added, giving us the building we see now.
A Royal grant of land provided for a Garrison Church for the military community serving at Fort Anne was received. A copy of the Royal Grant is found in the Narthex of St. Luke’s Church. The grant was issued by King George III in 1814 to the Rt. Rev. Hon. Charles Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Rev’d. Cyrus Perkins and the Church Wardens and Vestry, providing one acre, a piece of the 12 acres known locally as the White House field., for the specific purpose of erecting a Church. The grant stipulates that the needs of the military personnel stationed at Fort Anne, would be addressed by reserving for their use the balcony areas to be erected with the Church.
In 1814, the Parish Wardens invited tenders for the construction of the new St. Luke’s. The surviving advertisement describes the project in some detail. It requires the construction of a two room church in a colonial “meeting house” style, with balconies on three walls, boxed pews, a “pulpit in the Corinthian style,” and a small second room called the Chancel [where the pipe organ now sits]. The original plan called for a tower but no spire. In 1822, services were held for the first time in the new St. Luke’s. The first Chancel was not built until after 1830, and enlarged in 1879. After 1830, it would have appeared with side balconies, and a large window over-looking a shallow Chancel area, and the Altar set against the back wall.
From the Parish of AnnapolisSt. Luke's Anglican Church
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
St. Luke's Anglican Church is located prominently on St. George Street, opposite the Old Garrison Burying Ground and Fort Anne National Park, in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. This wooden, Gothic Revival style church dates from the nineteenth century. The building and property are included in the provincial designation.
HERITAGE VALUE
St. Luke's Anglican Church is valued for is close historical associations with the Town of Annapolis Royal and the British garrison and because of its prominent location opposite the Old Garrison Burying Ground and Fort Anne National Park, making it a valuable addition to the streetscape of the town.
The present St. Luke's is the second church of that name in Annapolis Royal. Construction began on the first in 1775, but was not completed until 1789. By 1814, a new building was needed and this led to a call for tenders for a second St. Luke's. Its design followed that of the "Inglis" style churches erected during Bishop Charles Inglis's episcopate in Nova Scotia from 1787 to 1816.
From its construction until 1854, when the last soldiers left Fort Anne for Halifax, St. Luke's was the designated garrison church. Among the famous regiments who attended services were the "Fighting 40th": the Highlanders soldiers who were later part of the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War.
Although the main structure of St. Luke's dates to the raising of the frame in 1815, the current exterior represents major nineteenth century renovations, probably dating to 1874.
St. Luke's in 1815 would have presented a much different appearance than at present. It possessed three galleries and thirty-six boxed and panelled pews with doors. After the soldiers left Fort Anne for Halifax in 1854, there was no longer any need for the galleries and the two side ones were removed; the rear gallery was retained. A chancel and sanctuary were added in 1874 and thus we see the church as it is today.
The most notable elements of the exterior of St. Luke's are the Gothic Revival style windows of the side elevations. Each window is, in fact, composed of a pair of long, slender lancet windows. Classical detailing found on the building exterior includes the treatment of cornerboards. The square bell tower, surmounted by a spire typical of the early nineteenth century, was erected in 1837. Except for the Gothic Revival style doorway, this structure probably appears close to its original form, though extensive repair was done to the spire after it was hit by lightning in the 1980s.
Situated prominently on St. George Street, opposite the Old Garrison Burying ground and Fort Anne National Park, St. Luke's continues to serve an active congregation.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
Character-defining elements of St. Luke's Anglican Church relating to its Gothic Revival style architecture include:
- prominent location and landmark status on St. George Street;
- wooden structure with gable roof;
- long, slender lancet windows;
- Classically detailed cornerboards;
- square bell tower, surmounted by a spire;
- chancel addition;
- wood clapboarding;
- roundel windows in tower.
From Historic Places Canada
Location of the Steeple:
342 St. George Street
Annapolis Royal, NS Canada
B0S 1A0
Approximate Date of Construction: 1822
Website: [Web Link]
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