In 1914 this impressive stone church was begun to replace their razed building. The cornerstone was laid on July 8, 1914 and St. Paul's Presbyterian was dedicated in 1915. In 1923, the Methodists joined the congregation, two years before
Church Union in Canada joined the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational congregations in Canada. The Methodist church was St. Stephen, while the Presbyterian Church was St. Paul. The resultant United Church was, naturally, St. Paul and St. Stephen.
The six-church Orchard Valley Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada was formed in July 2012. Shortly after, all six churches combined to one congregation of about 200, using the New Minas United Church. This church had been for sale from at least 2013 and, when we visited in 2015 it was still for sale.
A
CBC News Story, published on August 22, 2016, informs us that the
town's library is being demolished to make way for a new bridge over the river and has decided to take over the church. We assume this to be the Cornwallis River. As of now, January, 2017 the library is in temporary quarters in the basement while the renovations upstairs, their next permanent home, are being completed.
Following is an excerpt from that story.
Kentville library moves into
former United Church
By Jon Tattrie, CBC News
Posted: Aug 22, 2016 6:30 PM AT
Work is underway in Kentville, N.S., to convert a stone church into the town's new library.
The old library on Cornwallis Street is coming down to make room for a new bridge over the river.
The library is moving a few blocks to Main Street, where the former United Church of St. Stephen and St. Paul has been converted into a facility housing the library and other businesses and organizations. The landlord is looking for a few more tenants.
In 1914, it opened as a Presbyterian church. The Methodists joined the congregation in 1923. From that point on, the church operated as the United Church of St. Paul and St. Stephen. Now, they're converting the inside into a library...
A glass wall will keep the sound inside the community room, while visually connecting the two areas. The stained-glass windows will stay in the new library, bringing some of its past into its future.
From CBC News