07/09/2026
A Historical Loss: Demolition of The Church of the Ascension (The Old Anglican Church) in Barrington Passage
Yesterday, after 180 years of standing as a historical landmark in Barrington Passage, the Anglican Church was demolished. It was one of the oldest remaining structures in Barrington Passage.
When the Township of Barrington was established in 1761, Anglicanism was not practiced within its communities, as most families at that time were Congregationalists. It was not until the 1780’s that Anglicans came to Barrington from Shelburne. Their numbers were few; in 1790, there were 120 families in the Barrington Township, with those of the Anglican faith accounting for only six of them. While their congregation was small, their faith was strong, and their members were responsible for erecting this church in the Passage by the Barrington Bay in 1846.
The deed for the Anglican Church was registered on June 10, 1846 from Thomas O. Geddes, (1805-1886) a medical doctor in the Barrington Township, to the Right Reverend John Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia. Its construction was completed that year, and Reverend Nichols was appointed as the first minister there.
Around 1858, a rectory for the Anglican Church was built adjacent to the nearby Oddfellows Hall. It was used as such until the 1880s when it became an inn known as “Rock Cottage”. Following its history as an inn, it wore many hats until its demolition in the early 2010’s, including a Captain’s home, an apartment building, and a well-known business, Seabreeze Cablevision. An apartment building sits on this property present day.
Our historical records tell the story of a passionate woman whose faith contributed to the history of Anglicanism in the Barrington Township. Mrs. Sarah (Van Norden) Robertson, (1786-1866) an Anglican originally from Tusket, moved to the Barrington area with her husband, William, in 1814. Sarah and William were of different religious denominations, which they ended up compromising on by bringing up their sons as Presbyterians and their daughters as Anglicans. One of their daughters, Sarah (Robertson) Crowell, grew up to share her mother’s strong Anglican faith and became a vital and long-standing member of the Anglican Church in Barrington Passage. Both of these women are buried in the Anglican Cemetery at Barrington Passage, a close distance from where the church stood. There are around 50 people buried at the Anglican Cemetery, with the earliest stone dating back to 1851.
A celebration for the church’s 150th anniversary was held on May 16, 1996. For several years, the Anglican Church was the oldest church in the Municipality of Barrington that was still in steady operation, until its deconsecration in the early 2010’s. Since that time, the building has sat vacant and has slowly been deteriorating.
When we pass by these local historical landmarks, we rarely imagine how they came to be. To erect these century-old buildings was a true labour of love and dedication by the people of the Barrington Township long ago. Congregation members would fundraise and have their place of worship constructed, with much attention to detail and craftsmanship that is rarely seen in construction today. The Anglican Church was a Gothic-style church, built similar to other churches of this area. Early details of the church that remained prior to its demolition included its Gothic-shaped windows and its tin ceiling. Several exterior and interior architectural details of this church were modified throughout its lifetime.
This local landmark stood by the Barrington Bay for 180 years. It will certainly be missed. ❤️
