Nictaux Baptist Church, History
The Nictaux Baptist Church has a long and storied history. Although this is a short version, itremains a bit of a long read. I encourage you to take a few moments to take it in. This is just a tiny glance at what God has done here in this community.
Sincerely, Rev. (Pastor) Jeff Milne
The history of the Nictaux United Baptist Church dates back to the latter half of the eighteenthcentury, when the pastor of the "Church of Cornwallis and Horton" (today, Wolfville) ministeredto numerous communities, including Nictaux (from 1760-1775). It is also connected to the firstnoted spiritual awakening in the province, which came through the preaching of Henry Alline sometime between 1777 and 1783. (Alline was an itinerant preacher of major influence in NovaScotia, New Brunswick, and New England. In his time, Alline was considered "The Apostle ofNova Scotia.")
Major Nathaniel Parker, who served in the British army under General Wolfe and took part in thecapture of Quebec in 1759, came to Nova Scotia in 1765 and settled in Nictaux. In 1799, he and his wife, Salome, travelled on horseback to Horton and were baptized by immersion. Thereafter,their home in Nictaux became a centre for Baptists of the area. Major Parker is even known tohave preached on several occasions. His grave marker can still be found on the northeastcorner at the intersection of Hwy 201 and Hwy 10, near where several former church buildings once stood.
The first Baptist minister to settle in Nictaux was Rev. T.H. Chipman. He was baptized at Hortonon November 5, 1779, and ordained in Annapolis County in 1782. The Church at Nictaux was organized on June 6, 1810, with Mr. Chipman as Pastor; Joseph Morton, David Randall, and Isaac Whitman were appointed deacons. At that time, total membership was 26. On June 24,1811, the "Baptist Church of Nictaux and Wilmot," now with 58 members, requested admissioninto the N.S. Baptist Association, which was cheerfully granted.
In 1813, a building committee was organized, consisting of Obadiah Morse, Timothy Parker,Nathaniel Parker Jr., Ezekiel Cleveland, and Samuel Dodge. These men designed and organized the construction of a Baptist chapel near the intersection of Hwy 201 and Hwy 10.Rev. Chipman continued to serve the Lord at Nictaux until 1828, when failing health forced himto resign.
In December 1829, a young pastor, Rev. I.E. Bill, was called to Nictaux with his wife, Isabella,and their young son. During his time serving the Lord in Nictaux, Rev. Bill saw many respond tothe Lord's call, professing Christ as Lord and Saviour and entering the waters of Baptism. In 1829, the first Temperance Society in Nova Scotia was formed here in Nictaux. TheTemperance Society was a movement that encouraged voluntary, complete abstinence fromalcoholic beverages. This was done out of social concern for the perils of alcoholism and itsconnections to domestic violence and poverty. In May 1832, twenty-four gentlemen, includingPastor Bill, signed a document that set forth the Creed, Articles of Belief, Covenant, and Declaration of Land Ownership of the "Regular Calvinistic Close Communion Baptist Church of Christ in Nictaux and Wilmot," which was recorded with the Provincial Registrar of Deeds at Bridgetown on April 14, 1833.
Another notable event during Rev. I.E. Bill's time in Nictaux came in 1838. In September of that year, Dr. Edmond Albern Crawley was unsuccessful in an attempt to attain a faculty position at Dalhousie because he was a Baptist. In October, Crawley and John Pryor of Horton came to see Rev. I.E. Bill to discuss an idea that had been brought forth in 1828 by the BaptistEducational Society. This idea was to establish a college in Wolfville. After much prayer anddiscussion, the decision to "go forward" with this plan was made. In 1841 (13 years later),"Acadia" was finally given royal approval in the Nova Scotia Legislature. Crawley, Pryor, and Bill are noted among Acadia University's founding members, and we are proud to know and share that the final discernment and decision to take on that great work was made right here in Nictaux!
Nictaux is also notable as a "Mother Church," as it was comprised of members from a large area extending from what is now the eastern boundary of Paradise to the western boundary of Berwick, and from the Bay of Fundy shore to the southern boundary of New Albany. In 1833,there were 1,000 church members at Nictaux! From this, a division was made, and two new churches were organized at New Albany and Aylesford. Lawrencetown Valley West, and Inglisville later asked for permission to establish their respective churches on April 8, 1873. In 1861, it was noted at a meeting of the Baptist Association that dismissal would be granted to all members on the north side of the Annapolis River. With that, a new church known as Pine Grove was organized, now the United Baptist Church at Middleton. In addition, in 1861, a newhouse of worship was built at Torbrook, and in 1912, yet another at Bloomington. All these churches (seven!) can trace their roots to the fellowship that once gathered here at Nictaux.
As is so wisely stated in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything, including, as it notes, "a time to tear down and a time to build up" (Eccl. 3:3b). The congregation of the Nictaux Baptist Church has a history of bold and faithful moves in response to recognized needs. In 1840, a new meeting house was built on what is today the northeast corner of Hwy 10 and Hwy 201 to accommodate the remarkable growth of the church. This new meeting house was built in placeof the old Chapel building and could seat 600 people! At that time, the old chapel was moved to a new location and was then repurposed as a school. The year 1845 marked the beginning of another important work, when a boarding school for young ladies was opened under the direction of Rev. Bill's daughter. This was the first of its kind in Nova Scotia!
On January 19, 1899, the large meeting house mentioned above was destroyed by fire.Remarkably, by November 1899, the congregation had erected a new building. This building also stood at that same location — now the northeast corner at the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 201 — and in 1955, it was renovated to provide more Sunday School classrooms. In 1976,construction began on the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 201 on a Christian Family Centre, which was officially opened on November 19, 1978. At that time, it opened free of debt!
In March 2013, Rev. William (Bill) McLeod (who served here with his wife, Marian, from 1990 to 2019) led the church through a remarkable phase of its history. Due to poor/dangerousconditions and the projected repair costs, the church made the difficult decision to officially close and subsequently tear down the circa-1899 church building on the northeast corner of Hwy 10 and Hwy 201. Today, the bell from that former structure marks the place where the building once stood. The church in Nictaux now gathers for worship in a purposefully renovated Christian Family Centre on the southeast side of the intersection. To this day, it is called the Christian Family Centre (CFC), because we, the people professing Christ as Lord, comprise the church!This worship space is flexible, simple to maintain, and comparatively inexpensive to operate,thus freeing the church to better serve and be the church!
The years since 2020 have also been noteworthy. Today, the church is pastored by Rev. Jeff Milne. Pastor Jeff and his wife, Charlene, were called to Nictaux and began their service here in September 2019, just a few months before the first wave of the coronavirus, COVID-19.
The pandemic introduced many changes and challenges, but also many blessings. At times, the church was required to cease in-person gatherings for worship to limit interactions and the spread of the virus. In other instances, the church made the decision ourselves, out of care forthe safety of the church and community. During that season, the church found new ways to remain connected as a church family — an FM transmitter was purchased to allow for short-range broadcasts to the parking lot, the church gathered virtually for prayer meetings, and weregularly mailed out correspondence and weekly prayer letters to stay in touch with one another.
In the years since, the church returned to the familiar rhythms of in-person worship and fellowship that have always been at the heart of this congregation, but we have done so with renewed gratitude for the gift of simply being together. At the same time, some of what we learned during that season has remained and continues to bless us.
What could have been simply a season of loss became, by God's grace, a season thatstretched us and taught us, while also giving us a deeper appreciation for being together. Trueto the promise of Scripture, the challenges we have faced have strengthened the church, andwe continue to move forward with renewed purpose as we seek God's leading in all things.
Thank you for reading our history. We pray this has been an encouragement to you. We seeGod's fingerprints all over it, and we trust He is continuing His work in our community and thischurch. With confidence in that, we look forward to this church someday adding many moreparagraphs to its history! To God be the glory!
Your Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Nictaux Baptist Church
Note: The contents of this history are in large part thanks to the hard work and dedication offormer pastor, Rev. Ronald G. Baxter. Ron has written a much more detailed document, "AHistory of the Nictaux Baptist Church, 1779-1978," which is available for viewing at the CFC.
