‘It’s bittersweet’
Sydney Mines parishioners lament closing of centuries-old Baptist church
SYDNEY MINES — “It’s bittersweet because we’ve really felt like a church family here."
Marilyn Whyte says she and other board members of the Clyde Avenue Baptist Church are finding it difficult to process the closure of their house of worship after more than a century of service to Sydney Mines and area residents and beyond.
“I started coming here when I was 14 years old,” the Florence resident said. “And later on my children came to summer school here, plus my grandchild came here. It’s just very sad we’re losing this great church.”
Added church member Mina White of Bras d’Or, “When I started coming here, I had to row a boat from Point Aconi to Alder Point, get the Pitt bus to Florence to go to that church first. Then I started working at a gym near here — and that’s when I got to coming to this church.”
Several days ago, church clerk/secretary Deb White posted on social media that “after 119 years of faithful service, Clyde Avenue Baptist Church will close the doors of their building at 30 Clyde Ave., Sydney Mines.”
BUILDING SOLD
As the Valmac Realty sign outside the church’s front steps indicated on Wednesday, the building has now been sold. According to real estate website Realtor.com, the church had been put up for sale with an asking price of $189,000.
Board members, however, were reluctant on revealing the name of the new owner. “It was a private sale,” said Deb White of Sydney Mines, “so we’re really not at liberty to say who it is. That’s their story to tell, not ours.”
Still, for its board members, the church shuttering marks what many said seems to be a disappointing trend of late.
Back in September, a New Waterford Anglican church closed due to years of declining attendance and a
"It’s just very sad we’re losing this great church.”
Marilyn Whyte Board member
forced closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left that church’s warden weighing options on how best to proceed. And a year ago, the Glace Bay Baptist Church closed permanently for much of the same reasons.
DECLINING MEMBERSHIP
At its apex, the church would attract upwards of 40 loyal members, as they wanted to keep congregation numbers small. But when the COVID19 pandemic set in nearly three years ago, those numbers dwindled to just 10-15 attendees at best. Members aged in range from the mid40s to 98.
Financially, Deb White said things were stable and had been no issues as far as budgets go.
“The core of the thing is the falling membership,” said Sydney resident Fred James, who sits as church board treasurer. “When the membership falls off, so does the income.”
“Plus, the age of some of our congregants played a part,” added Marguerite White, Mina’s daughter. “Many of them are older and some went into nursing homes or elsewhere.”
Other members attribute the declining membership to families moving out west, where job opportunities may have been more abundant, members passing away, or being fearful someone might still catch COVID-19, James said.
TRYING TO ATTRACT YOUTH
There’s also the factor of trying to welcome more younger members to the church, which Deb White said has often proven to be problematic.
“Today, I think the young (people) seem to want a different style of church, and we’re fairly traditional,” she said. “Now, we’ve changed and grown over the past few years in the way we handle our church services under the guidance of our pastor, Rev. Brian Barron. And he’s been wonderful for us.
“But without the youth, there’s no new people coming in to fill the void.”
As board members reflected on their personal memories, Deb White said it would be remiss not to point out the church’s long history.
According to the “Clive Avenue United Baptist Church, Sydney Mines” booklet covering its history between 1903 and 1990, it began when eight people met at the studio of one Samuel Stubbert at the turn of the 20th century. Future meetings would be held at Temperance Hall, but as interest and attendance grew, a new building was erected at a cost of $2,000 back in the day. The initial church was organized at the same time — and on Dec. 20, 1903, the building officially opened for worshippers.
WELL-MAINTAINED BUILDING
Despite the building’s age, Deb White says the church was well taken of over the years. The church’s historical records revealed renovations costing between $24,000 and $31,000 taking place in 1981 and 1990, respectively.
“It might need a few repairs to some odds and ends, but the inspector who was here (before the church sale) commented that he looked at a lot of these older buildings and he’s never seen a church that was so well maintained for its age.”
One of its unique external additions involved the replacement of the original steeple in 1973 with a “short steeple” featuring a “fleurde-lis aluminum cannon ball mounted on top.” James mentioned that originally came from Louisbourg.
The social hall, White said, was constructed within the last 20 years.
“Through the years we’ve had youth programs, Sunday school, after-school programs, community meals, teaching Bible school here,” said church member Gwen Gardner.
“We’d help with the Sydney Mines food bank, too,” said Marilyn Whyte, adding there were just too many memories to recall about the church in one sitting.
As to the future of the church and its board, Deb White said everyone is “just trying to get through the end of this week, let everyone absorb what has just happened, and give them a bit of time so they can think about what they want to see next.”