Grafton Street Methodist Church

Reason for registration

historical and spiritual association with Methodism and the creation of the United Church of Canada; and for its association with renowned architect David Stirling. The church is unique in Nova Scotia and is architecturally significant for its Gothic Gable style, highlighted by its great front gable with tall Gothic buttresses and 5 detailed finials that project above the roof line. Most notably the church was built without a steeple. David Stirling designed many notable buildings in Halifax and Nova Scotia, and not long after the completion of the Grafton Street Methodist Church he was appointed architect of the Government of Nova Scotia. The church, graveyard and hall are historically and spiritually significant for their association with the history of methodism in Nova Scotia and the 1925 creation of the United Church. It was built to serve the original Methodist congregation between 1868 and 1869. Rev. William Black, founder of Methodism in Atlantic Canada, is buried beneath the church. In 1925 the congregation voted not to join the newly formed United Church of Canada, and joined with remaining Presbyterian churches in Halifax who did not want to be part of the new United Church.

Character-defining elements

Character-defining elements relating to the Victorian Gothic style architecture of the Grafton Street Methodist Church include:

- brick construction;
- carved sandstone detail;
- wide angle of the front gable;
- tall Gothic buttresses and five fancy finials projecting above the roof line;
- Gothic style windows;
- small south side cemetery with original grave markers;
- prominent location on a hill in the downtown core of Halifax.