In 1888 the church on this site burned, being replaced by the present one in 1890. In 1925, with
Church Union in Canada, Peniel Presbyterian became Peniel United Church. Today Peniel United is a member church of the Cobequid Pastoral Charge and alternates services with the Bass River and Economy United Churches.
Primarily Gothic Revival in style, the nave is quite tall, with double rows of windows down each side, the lower row being simple six over six rectangular windows, while the upper row has Gothic arched lancet windows with decorative hoods over each. The bell tower, partially inset in the front gable end, has an open belfry with a very tall steeple above, capped by a weathervane.
Across Highway 2 (aka the Glooscap Trail) from the church is the United Cemetery, with many headstones predating the church, indicating that it would have originally been a Presbyterian cemetery. To the rear of this is a Methodist cemetery, known also as the Lower Five Islands Cemetery. Somewhat smaller, it is about one third the size of the United Cemetery. It, too, has headstones predating the church. Both cemeteries have very recent headstones, indicating that both remain in use.