A Profile of Beacon United Church
Beacon United Church is located at 25
Beacon Street in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and serves as the only United Church in Yarmouth County.
Soon after the
first English settlers landed at Chebogue in 1761 they established a house of worship which was located on Town Point Road,
across from the Town Point Cemetery. These early settlers were of the Congregationalist faith. When the United Church of Canada
was formed in 1925 -Yarmouth congregations of the Congregationalist, Methodist and Presbyterian faiths joined in union to
become the United Church of Canada.
In 1967 the Congregations of Central United Church and Wesley United Churches
in Yarmouth joined together to form Beacon United Church. Yarmouth County congregations from Port Maitland, Hebron, Arcadia,
Tusket, Brenton, and Chebogue joined in to form a union of churches which came together in establishing Beacon United Church.
The church building and Christian Education Center were officially dedicated on Sunday June 25th 1967. In looking
for a name for the church it was decided to call it Beacon because the name suggests "guiding light". It is hoped
that the church does indeed serve as a guiding light to all within it’s range. The name is in keeping with Yarmouth’s
heritage as a leading world seaport in the days of sail. The church is also located on one of the higher points of land within
the town and by chance is located on Beacon Street.
Beacon serves as a church and education center to the entire
community. The main church building is of a modified A-frame structure. It has a large sanctuary with a seating capacity of
over 500. An elevated choir loft is situated at the back of the sanctuary where a Cassavant Brothers pipe organ and Carillon
is located. The organ was originally located in Central United Church. The sanctuary is also adorned with stained glass windows
many of which have come from both Wesley United and Central United Churches. Attached to the main church building are the
church offices, choir rooms, and a chapel which hosts seating for approximately 50 people. An attached wing and education
center hosts 14 classrooms, children’s and adult libraries, parlor, nursery, Sunday School offices, kitchen, and a large
stage and auditorium.
This facility supports the community in many capacities such as providing facilities for
scouts and guide groups, self help support groups, dance classes, arts and crafts groups, community concerts, fundraising
events and providing worship space for other denominations. Room rentals and auditorium rentals are also available.
Ministers of Beacon United Church
1968-1969
Robert Williams
1968-1974 Raymond
Francis
1969-1972 R. Laird Sterling
1972-1978 George M. MacLean
1974-1979 Isaac Walls
1978-1982 G. Curtis MacDonald
1979-1995 J. Raymond Corbett
1982-1985 Kathryn Guthrie
1985-1986
William D. Van Zoost
1986-1991 John A.C. Wilson
1991-1994 Michael Simmons
1995-1998
John Van Gulick
1998-2000 Kenley MacNeil
1999-2000 Flora L. Christie
2000-2010
Leslie Robinson
