History
On June 12 1839 the first service of the Parish of St. John's Anglican Church was held at Three Mile Inn near the Bedford Basin. Sunday evening services were established at the schoolhouse near Three Mile Inn until November of 1840. On May 1 1841 it was proposed that a church building be erected. On June 22 1841, land for the original church and cemetery was donated by St. Paul's Church. St. John's Chapel was built through the dedicated efforts of the Reverend William Uniacke who was part of a sub-committee formed on June 29 1841 to oversee the property and building of the new church. On July 28 1841, the dimensions of the church (44' X 28') were established and six tenders were accepted for consideration. On September 8 1841, the church's frame was built in Dartmouth and was subsequently floated up the Basin for placement at the site. The building of the church was completed in a mere six weeks after the frame was raised. On November 27 1841, the accounts were accepted and the keys received.
The chapel was located in what is now St. John's Anglican Cemetery. A cairn has been placed to mark the position of the altar in its original location. Many founders of Halifax rest near this site including Sir Charles Tupper who was one of the Fathers of Confederation.
The first Annual General Meeting was conducted on March 29 1842 (Easter Tuesday). The consecration of the chapel took place on July 11 1844 and was presided over by the Right Reverend John Inglis third Bishop of Nova Scotia.
Originally a chapel of St. George's Parish, St. John's Anglican Church later had associations with St. Mark's and St. James' Churches before becoming a separate parish in 1919.
St. Peter's Anglican Church, Birch Cove, was a daughter church of the parish and the Parish of St. Margaret of Scotland Church was carved out of the parish boundaries of St. John's Anglican Church.
The decision to change the site occupied by the first St. John's Anglican Church to it's second location resulted from the area's population growth and a generous provision of property donated by the late Mr. Henry Deal. This second parish complex was constructed at the intersection of Dutch Village Road with Bayers Road and Joseph Howe Avenue.
The cornerstone of the second St. John's Anglican Church was laid in December of 1959. The building was designed by Keith L. Graham and Associates of Halifax and was built by MacDougall Construction Company Limited of New Glasgow. The church was constructed of steel and masonry with glass panels. A striking architectural feature of the day was the interior breath of the sanctuary as well as the height of three crosses near the main entrance.
The "Opening and Service of Dedication" for the second St. John's Anglican Church was held on Friday, February 26 1960. The second St. John's Anglican Church was consecrated on April 25 1973.
A service of Celebration and Thanksgiving was held in the second church complex presided over by the Right Reverend Fred Hiltz, fourteenth Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, on Sunday, March 25 2007, at which the sentences of consecration were revoked. The property was sold and the complex was demolished to make way for a new commercial development.
The parishioners moved on to temporary locations located in Clayton Park West. Currently, a Task Group of the Parish is making preparations to construct a new parish church complex, under the direction of architect Foster MacKenzie, on land recently purchased at 787 Kearney Lake Road in the West Bedford development area.
