The historic Anglican churches of the Parish of Petite Riviere are shown below by date of opening for worship. It wasn’t always easy to travel in those days, so often there was a delay between use and consecration. In all cases, the church as community was already active in its home area before a church was built, although members had to go as far as Lunenburg, or later West LaHave, to worship in an actual church. At a later date a page will be added for churches in the area that have been deconsecrated by the Anglican diocese but are still in use for worship or other purposes.
St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Broad Cove, was the first of our present day parish churches to open for worship, in 1842. It was consecrated two years later and is, as former Rector David Phillips described, “in dialogue with the Broad Cove United Church throughout the year.” The two churches face each other across Highway 331. St. Mark’s is the oldest Anglican Church building between the LaHave and Medway Rivers.
In 1886, the present-day St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church was built on the site of the original St. Michael’s, established in 1853 in a building originally intended for a schoolhouse. The old church was demolished and the new one completed in a little over four months. It was consecrated three years later on September 29th, the Feast Day of its namesake. In 1812, the first Anglican service in the area was held in a local barn by a visiting Church of England missionary.
St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church, Vogler’s Cove, was built and opened in 1879, though the date of its consecration is not recorded in the most recent parish history. As with most early churches, the building included only the nave, with the chancel and belfry being added later. The church is named after “the first recorded Martyr in Britain, c. 304” (BCP).
The present-day St. Mary’s Anglican Church opened in 1914 and was probably consecrated in the same year. Although it is now the newest of the parish churches, its worship community is the oldest, beginning sometime after 1830 in the schoolhouse. When a new schoolhouse was built, the congregation purchased the old one. It was moved to the site of the present church, which incorporates materials salvaged from the old building. The bell tower was added in 1929 and the steeple in 1955. Music and the arts are cherished aspects of St. Mary’s church life.