18th Century Halifax

Some of the oldest buildings in Canada are here in Nova Scotia, bested only by Quebec, with homes and chapels dating to the 1600s (Maison des Jésuites-de-Sillery, for instance, from 1637). Few of them still stand, however. But, here in Nova Scotia, we have St. Paul's Church. Built in 1750, it was the first Anglican church in North America, and the oldest standing structure in Halifax.

Founded by the proclamation of George II, the church was designed in palladian style by James Gibbs, based on the design of St. Peter's Church in London (circa 1728). Some of the interior features include original pine and oak support beams brought in from Maine, a crypt containing the remains of 20 congregants, and two fonts, one presented by the Bishop of Newfoundland in the 17th century, and one from the 18th. The external timber was cut and shipped from Boston. It remains an attractive tourist site, located in Parade Square, and has an active congregation and service schedule. It survived the Halifax Explosion (1917). The founding of St. Paul's followed the founding of Halifax in 1749.