Nova Scotia Archives

Lunenburg by the Sea

Churches and Schools

Lunenburg prides itself on its many historic churches — St. John's Anglican (built 1754; 'Gothicized' in 1870-75), Zion Evangelical Lutheran (1890-91), St. Norbert's Roman Catholic (ca.1840), Central United, formerly Methodist (1883-85) and St. Andrew's Presbyterian (1828; lengthened and 'Gothicized' in 1879). The Baptist Church was constructed in 1884, remodeled in 1905, and closed in 1928; it subsequently became Sweeney's Funeral Home.

St. John's Anglican, the finest and most famous of all the Lunenburg churches, burned in a spectacular blaze under mysterious circumstances on Hallowe'en night in 2001, throwing the community into stunned dismay. The response, however, was typical of Lunenburg — the decision to rebuild was almost immediate, and St. John's is presently under reconstruction and restoration.

Various church schools, several private schools and the Lunenburg Grammar School, all maintained and supported by private funds, operated in the town prior to free education, which began in Nova Scotia in 1864. In that year, Lunenburg residents decided to build an Academy; until this new structure opened the following year, free students were taught in the Temperance Hall. The original Academy was located in Jubilee Park between Cumberland and Townsend streets, east of the present Town Hall. Fire swept through the wooden structure on 28 September 1893; fortunately the principal, teachers and students safely evacuated without injury.

The present Lunenburg Academy is the town's most prominent landmark. Built on top of Gallows Hill in 1894-95, each floor of the Academy has six entrances, six classrooms and six staircases up to the next floor. The Academy became exclusively an elementary school after the new Lunenburg Junior-Senior High School opened in 1966.

Results 1 to 15 of 16 from your search:

St. John's Anglican Church

Date: ca. 1869

Photographer: A.E. Rhodes

Reference: Estate of Elizabeth G. Owen Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Lunenburg: Churches

Theme: Churches and Schools


Baptist Church

Date: between 1884 and 1896

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 6

Theme: Churches and Schools


Baptist Church

Date: ca. 1896

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Library VF vol. 135 no. 32

Theme: Churches and Schools


[Zion Evangelical] Lutheran Church

Date: ca. 1896

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Library VF vol. 135 no. 32

Theme: Churches and Schools


St. John's Anglican Church

Date: ca. 1900

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 8 / negative FP/DN1427

Theme: Churches and Schools


Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, York Street

Date: ca. 1900

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 9 / negative FP/DN1390

Theme: Churches and Schools


Lunenburg Methodist Church

Date: ca. 1900

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 34 / negative FP/DN1378

Theme: Churches and Schools


St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Date: ca. 1900

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 5 / negative FP/DN1389

Theme: Churches and Schools


St. Norbert's Roman Catholic Church

Date: ca. 1914

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Library VF vol. 496 no. 39

Theme: Churches and Schools


Methodist Church

Date: ca. 1914

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Library VF vol. 496 no. 39

Theme: Churches and Schools


"St. John's Anglican Church"

Date: ca. 1935

Photographer: Nova Scotia Information Service

Reference: Nova Scotia Information Service Nova Scotia Archives NSIS no. 1233 / negative 1233

Theme: Churches and Schools


St. John's Parish Hall

Date: 1975

Photographer: Robert Campbell

Reference: Robert Campbell Nova Scotia Archives 1981-476 no. 6-33 / negative N-6-33

Theme: Churches and Schools


"List of the Scholars now in Lunenburg Grammar School with their names Ages and what they learn"

Date: 5 February 1818

Reference: NS House of Assembly Petitions Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series P vol. 69 no. 9

Theme: Churches and Schools


Lunenburg Academy with students on schoolground

Date: 1881

Photographer: L.A. Hirtle

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Lunenburg: Schools / negative N-228

Theme: Churches and Schools


Lunenburg Academy

Date: ca. 1900

Reference: Bailly Family Nova Scotia Archives 1985-562 no. 11 / negative FP/DN1334

Theme: Churches and Schools


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