New Horizons Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Halifax, Nova Scotia that was established by Black Refugees in 1832. When the chapel was completed, black citizens of Halifax were reported to be proud because it was evidence that former slaves could establish their own institutions in Nova Scotia.[1] Under the direction of Richard Preston, the church laid the foundation for social action to address the plight of Black Nova Scotians.[2][3]
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 Halifax Explosion of 1917 and served as a temporary shelter for survivors for the rest of the winter. Soon after the explosion, Rev. William A. White worked at the church for 17 years until he died in 1936. In 1937, William Pearly Oliver became the minister and by 1945 he and the church developed the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Church was instrumental in supporting the case of Viola Desmond through the courts in the first year Oliver was the minister. Oliver worked at the church for twenty-five years, until 1962.
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]
horizons, baptist, church, baptist, church, halifax, nova, scotia, that, established, black, refugees, 1832, when, chapel, completed, black, citizens, halifax, were, reported, proud, because, evidence, that, former, slaves, could, establish, their, institution. New Horizons Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Halifax Nova Scotia that was established by Black Refugees in 1832 When the chapel was completed black citizens of Halifax were reported to be proud because it was evidence that former slaves could establish their own institutions in Nova Scotia 1 Under the direction of Richard Preston the church laid the foundation for social action to address the plight of Black Nova Scotians 2 3 New Horizons Baptist Church Halifax Nova Scotia Contents 1 History 2 Notable members 3 See also 4 References 5 LinksHistory Edit Richard Preston 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 William Pearly Oliver 1934 The Church survived the Halifax Explosion of 1917 and served as a temporary shelter for survivors for the rest of the winter Soon after the explosion Rev William A White worked at the church for 17 years until he died in 1936 In 1937 William Pearly Oliver became the minister and by 1945 he and the church developed the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People The Church was instrumental in supporting the case of Viola Desmond through the courts in the first year Oliver was the minister Oliver worked at the church for twenty five years until 1962 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 EditRichard Preston William A White James Robinson Johnston Portia White Viola Desmond John Burton minister William Pearly Oliver Robert Downey boxer 9 See also EditBlack Nova ScotiansReferences Edit 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 Globe and MailLinks EditAfrican Baptist Association of Nova Scotia HistoryCoordinates 44 39 9 7 N 63 35 1 2 W 44 652694 N 63 583667 W 44 652694 63 583667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Horizons Baptist Church amp oldid 1117281277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
