It is reputed that there had been a building on the site of this church as early as 1612, when it was noted on Samuel de Champlain’s 1612 map of Acadia. It's unknown what may have transpired on the site in the intervening years, but this church was built on the site around 1856. It continued in use, predominantly as a Baptist Church, until its closing in 1970.
In danger of being demolished, it was rescued by members of the congregation who formed the Chapel Hill Society. In 1979 it was turned over to the society to be transformed into a museum, the Shag Harbour Chapel Hill Museum. The museum presently operates each year from June 15 to September 5, displaying household artefacts and utensils, working implements and records of early community life.
In 1929 a strong winter storm relieved the church of its steeple, but it is otherwise essentially original save for having been clad in vinyl siding in recent years which now hides some of the original architectural detail.
The church is surrounded on three sides by what we assume to be the old Baptist cemetery, now known as the Chapel Hill Cemetery, long out of use. With at least 100 burials, the cemetery was in use from 1849 to 1978. There is an excellent chance that at least a few unmarked graves exist in the cemetery.
The museum has a
website which, as of this writing, appears to exist yet is not truly functional.
Chapel Hill Museum
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Chapel Hill Museum is located at 5492 Highway 3, in Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia. Located on top of a hill facing the ocean and surrounded on three sides by a burial ground; the building and cemetery were designated a municipal heritage property July 4, 1984.
HERITAGE VALUE
Chapel Hill Museum is valued for its age, religious role in the community, and for the property’s association with the first European settlers in the area.
The location of the museum is thought to have been the location of a ‘vieux logis,’ or old house, as referenced on Samuel de Champlain’s 1612 map of Acadia. This map shows a trading post near Cape Sable at the mouth of the Shag Harbour Brook on a high hill, easily visible to approaching ships. It is believed that the hill on the map is the one where the museum now stands.
In 1760 one of the first ships carrying English-speaking settlers arrived in the Barrington area. On board was Joshua Nickerson, who became one of the founders of the Barrington Township and was the ‘keeper of the grant,’ a position which required him to record the markings and owners of the first land division. Nickerson also framed the Old Meeting House in 1765, and built one of the first grist mills in the area. While he was originally granted land in Barrington proper, he later moved to Shag Harbour where he established a small shipyard. This land passed through Nickerson’s family to his grandson Levi who donated a portion of the land for the first church and burial ground in Shag Harbour.
The current church on this location was built circa 1856 as a nondenominational church. Eventually the church was solely used by a Baptist congregation and became known as the Shag Harbour United Baptist Church. Its location high on a hill with a central tower and steeple, the church often served as a beacon for mariners. In 1970 the church closed and plans were made to tear the original building down and build a larger one. In response, residents formed the Chapel Hill Society to save the building. In 1979 the congregation voted to offer the building to the society to operate it as a community museum
Originally the building had a steeple; however it was lost in a winter gale in 1929. The church has changed little since its construction, however it was clad in vinyl siding covering some architectural details.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
- location close to road on hill facing ocean;
- wood frame construction;
- central tower;
- wooden door on either side of tower;
- three large wooden, arched windows on each side;
- two sets of cement stairs leading to the main entrance;
- all original interior elements including: pews, platform for choir and pulpit, floorboards, metallic ceiling with gold coloured dropped metallic squares to hold lamps; and gilt filigree chandelier;
- cemetery on three sides.
From Historic Places Canada