Brunswick Street United Church Presents

Beans and Brownbread

The Church on Brunswick Street is now a well-known Truro landmark.

How did this building get here? How old is it? Who built it? What is it used for? This is about "the big white building on the corner" that used to be "the little church on Brunswick St."

The building itself is 57 years old (the first service was held Jan 23, 1949), built in response to growth, replacing a building that was dedicated in 1895. The old building was lost in a fire in 1957. The cost of the new building was in excess of $25,000. Today, it costs almost this much each year to keep the building heated and in good repair.

The growth experienced during the war years, both in the size of the congregation and in the activities associated with the church, made the old building inadequate to meet the needs of the people. It was during the pastorate of A. T. MacLellan (1945-49) that decisive action was taken. A building committee was formed and began raising money.

This building served the Brunswick St. United congregation as a church for 25 years, until the present church was built on the site of the original in 1964. Since then it has functioned as a church hall and community center.

Inside, the building is laid out as a multi-purpose gym. There is a stage, church office and storage room in the rear (south end of the structure).

Today, the Brunswick Street United congregation maintains this facility for both church-sponsered and secular events, serving the east-end communities of Truro and Salmon River. Groups such as Club 55 Exercise Group, the Y Senior's Dance Group, Jenny Kierstead Yoga, Patricia Campbell Yoga and the local Sparks use what is now the church hall on a weekly basis. In the basement there are two dog classes, Chanshek Obedience Club and Nova Scotia Working Canine Club, who use the space once or twice a week on a regular basis. The facility is available to all non-profit groups, who are asked to make modest contributions toward the heating and upkeep costs.

Brunswick Street Church also has close ties with two schools in the neighborhood; Alice Street School and L'Ecole Acadienne de Truro. Both schools have Brunswick Street Church designated as an emergency location in the event it is needed. Alice Street School uses the church facilities for their Spring and Christmas concerts and their Christmas worship service. United Church Women caters the Christmas dinner for the students and staff of Alice Street School. In return, the Alice Street School children's choir participate in the Sunday morning service.

This building is now accepted as part of the neighborhood scenery, quietly fulfilling its vital role in support of the surrounding community.