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 Trinity Anglican Church - Digby, Nova Scotia Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 44° 37.212 W 065° 45.452
20T E 281231 N 4944460
Both a Canadian National Historic Site and a Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Property, this Gothic Revival church stands as a testament to the craftsmanship available in Digby in the nineteenth century.
Waymark Code: WMPGCD
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/27/2015
Views: 1
Finely and painstakingly crafted from foundation to weathervane, this building is a genuine treat to visit. From the decorative shingle work on the steeple and bell tower to the medieval wrought iron door hinges, architect Stephen C. Earle left no stone unturned in his effort to make this church stand out from its contemporaries. Fastidiously maintained, its condition appears to be identical to what one would have witnessed in 1878, the year its cornerstone was laid.
Interestingly, when the cornerstone for this church was laid, the cornerstone from its predecessor, the old 1788 church, was laid beside it.
Designed by American architect Stephen C. Earle and built in 1878, this church is a fine example of the Gothic Revival style as interpreted in wood. In the spirit of British parish churches of the Middle Ages, the exterior composition clearly defines the principal interior spaces of nave, chancel and side aisles. The attractive pattern of vertical and horizontal boards reflects late-19th-century American practice and is intended to emphasize the church's frame construction. Trinity Anglican replaced the original church built by Loyalist settlers on this site in 1788.
From the CNHS plaque
The silver bell in the tower which still peals before services was a gift of Admiral Robert Digby, the namesake of Digby, who also financed, at least in part, the original 1788 church.
Guided tours of the church are available by appointment.
Trinity Anglican Church
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Trinity Anglican Church is located on a hillside on the corner of Mount and Queen Streets in Digby, Nova Scotia, overlooking the waterfront area of the town. This wooden Gothic Revival style church was built in 1878. The church, church hall, cemetery and property are included in the provincial designation.
HERITAGE VALUE
Trinity Anglican Church is valued for its association with the Loyalist settlement of Digby County and because it is considered to be a significant example of the Gothic Revival style church designed by Stephen Earle.
Digby was one of the major settlement areas for Loyalists. The parish of Digby was created on Michaelmas Day- September 29, 1785. The first rector was a Connecticut Loyalist, the Reverend Roger Viets. Bishop Charles Inglis laid the cornerstone for the first Trinity on July 30, 1788.
By the early 1870s, the church was becoming too small to meet the needs of a growing parish. During 1877 and 1878, the parish made plans for a new structure. On July 3, 1878, the cornerstone was laid for the second Trinity Church. The architect was Stephen Earle and the builder was M.L. Oliver of Digby. Bishop Hibbert Binney consecrated the new church on October 13, 1880.
Built in the Gothic Revival style, Trinity Church is considered a significant work of Stephen Earle (1839-1913), a notable late nineteenth century American architect. Although much of Earle's work was executed in the Romanesque Revival style, he designed over forty churches, providing ample opportunity to also explore the Gothic Revival style.
In the exterior of the Trinity Church, the basic building parts are clearly expressed, and include the nave, side aisles, narthex, chancel and spire, though this element is atypically located. Gothic building elements included in the Trinity design include pointed arch window openings and clerestory windows in the nave. A Gothic atmosphere is reinforced by the stained glass of the rose window, with the Star of David incorporated into the frame pattern, the work of Alexander Gibbs, a London artist working in Bloomsbury.
The second building on the property, the church hall, was built in 1904. George A. Pratt prepared plans for this structure and the builder was Ralph M. Oliver of Digby.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
Character-defining elements of Trinity Anglican Church include:
- wood frame structure;
- board and batten cladding along the base of the exterior;
- horizontal belt courses;
- Stick style detailing on the entrance way;
- nave, side aisles, narthex, chancel and spire, though this element is atypically located;
- pointed arch window openings;
- clerestory windows in the nave;
- stained glass rose window, with the Star of David incorporated into the frame pattern;
- wood frame church hall;
- cemetery surrounding the church, with original grave markers.
From Historic Places Canada
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Location of the Steeple:
87 Queen Street
Digby, NS Canada
B0V 1A0
Approximate Date of Construction: 1878
Website: [Web Link]
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