New Horizons Baptist Church
History of Halifax, Nova Scotia |
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New Horizons Baptist Church (named Cornwallis Street Baptist Church until 2018) is a
History
Preston and others established a network of socially active Black baptist churches throughout Nova Scotia, with the Halifax church being referred to as the "Mother Church."[4] Five of these churches were established in Halifax: Preston (1842), Beechville (1844), Hammonds Plains (1845), and another in Africville (1849) and Dartmouth.[5] From meetings held at the church, they also established the African Friendly Society, the African Abolition Society, and the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA). In the fight to end slavery in America, Preston stated:
- The time will come when slavery will be just one of our many travails. Our children and their children's children will mature to become indifferent toward climate and indifferent toward race. Then we will desire . . . Nay!, we will demand and we will be able to obtain our fair share of wealth, status and prestige, including political power. Our time will have come, and we will be ready . . . we must be.[6]
The church was eventually renamed the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church (1892).
The Church survived the
Cornwallis Street has continued its history of social action through the years. The church has been led by visionary pastors committed to community uplift. For over 30 years the church ran a Hot Lunch Program to feed local school children. The children dubbed the church "The Dinner Church".
In 2005 the church was the subject of a three-episode television documentary. The design project renovated the church's lower hall as a dedicated space for Sunday School.
In 2007, Cornwallis Street called its first female pastor in the person of Rev. Rhonda Y. Britton, an American who was serving another AUBA church in New Glasgow, NS. Rev. Britton completed her Doctor of Ministry degree from Acadia University in 2012 and continues to serve Cornwallis Street. Under Dr. Britton's leadership, Cornwallis Street began a Rites of Passage Program for youth 8-18 in an effort to address the growing violence plaguing the black community.
In 2009 Rev. Richard Preston was designated a person of national significance by Parks Canada. The commemorative plaque is mounted outside the church.[7]
In September 2017, the church announced it would rename itself with a name that better reflects its values and identity as disciples of Jesus Christ. The leadership launched an initiative inviting members of its congregation to submit entries from which a new name would be chosen. In May 2018, the church congregation approved a renaming to "New Horizons Baptist Church."[8]
Notable members
- Richard Preston
- William A. White
- James Robinson Johnston
- Portia White
- Viola Desmond
- John Burton (minister)
- William Pearly Oliver
- Robert Downey (boxer)[9]
See also
References
- ^ Canadian Biography - "Richard Preston"
- ^ Pier 21 - Black Refugees
- ^ A Brief History of the Coloured Baptists of Nova Scotia. 1895
- ^ Canadian Biography - Richard Preston
- ^ Nova Scotia Archives
- ^ Canadian Biography - Richard Preston
- ^ Church - official website
- ^ "Halifax church drops Cornwallis name, now known as New Horizons Baptist Church - Halifax | Globalnews.ca".
- ^ "Robert Downey was part of Nova Scotia's boxing dynasty". The Globe and Mail. 2015-08-02. Archived from the original on 2022-12-30.