Weymouth Falls Picnic
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
How are the people in the picture dressed? What do you think that says about how they viewed going to church?
THINK
What is the importance of cultural institutions to a community?
DO
Do some research to find other current or historical African United Baptist Churches in Nova Scotia.
Share your thoughts or stories from what you discover.
Details
Date Around 1900
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
- Reverend Richard Preston founded the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA), Canada’s oldest Black organization.
- The Reverend was a formerly enslaved African American who came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. He named himself after the Nova Scotian community of Preston.
- Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
Weymouth Falls was settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s. The African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) established the church there in 1854. The AUBA is Canada’s oldest Black organization.
The AUBA’s founder, Reverend Richard Preston, was enslaved in Virginia, and in 1816, came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the town’s name in gratitude. He helped establish 11 Baptist churches and fought against slavery in the Maritimes.
Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
This photograph depicts the congregation of Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church, around the year 1900. Their formal attire is typical of the clothing worn at church picnics and other special events of the time.
Weymouth Falls was one of the communities settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s (and also home to artist Harold Cromwell). A rural village located on the banks of the Sissiboo River, Weymouth is noted for its diverse blend of cultures, including African Nova Scotians, Mi’kmaq, British Loyalists, and Acadians.
Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church was one of seven churches established in 1854 by the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) — Canada’s oldest Black organization.
Founded by Reverend Richard Preston, the purpose of the AUBA was to connect African Nova Scotian Baptist churches across the province. As an organization created by Black people, in the service of Black people, the AUBA gave African Nova Scotians a sense of ownership in their religious life.
The Reverend, formerly enslaved in Virginia, arrived in Nova Scotia in 1816, in search of his mother, who had possibly come to the province with other Black refugees between 1813 and 1815. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the community’s name as his own surname in gratitude.
Preston went on to have a significant impact on the religious and civic lives of African Nova Scotians. He helped to establish 11 Baptist churches in Nova Scotia, and became a leading figure in the abolitionist struggle in the Maritimes.
Today, the AUBA counts 19 historically Black Baptist churches in Nova Scotia as part of its membership. Continuing its founding tradition, every August the AUBA gathers for music, worship and workshops.
- This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
- Reverend Richard Preston founded the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA), Canada’s oldest Black organization.
- The Reverend was a formerly enslaved African American who came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. He named himself after the Nova Scotian community of Preston.
- Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
Weymouth Falls was settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s. The African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) established the church there in 1854. The AUBA is Canada’s oldest Black organization.
The AUBA’s founder, Reverend Richard Preston, was enslaved in Virginia, and in 1816, came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the town’s name in gratitude. He helped establish 11 Baptist churches and fought against slavery in the Maritimes.
Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
This photograph depicts the congregation of Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church, around the year 1900. Their formal attire is typical of the clothing worn at church picnics and other special events of the time.
Weymouth Falls was one of the communities settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s (and also home to artist Harold Cromwell). A rural village located on the banks of the Sissiboo River, Weymouth is noted for its diverse blend of cultures, including African Nova Scotians, Mi’kmaq, British Loyalists, and Acadians.
Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church was one of seven churches established in 1854 by the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) — Canada’s oldest Black organization.
Founded by Reverend Richard Preston, the purpose of the AUBA was to connect African Nova Scotian Baptist churches across the province. As an organization created by Black people, in the service of Black people, the AUBA gave African Nova Scotians a sense of ownership in their religious life.
The Reverend, formerly enslaved in Virginia, arrived in Nova Scotia in 1816, in search of his mother, who had possibly come to the province with other Black refugees between 1813 and 1815. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the community’s name as his own surname in gratitude.
Preston went on to have a significant impact on the religious and civic lives of African Nova Scotians. He helped to establish 11 Baptist churches in Nova Scotia, and became a leading figure in the abolitionist struggle in the Maritimes.
Today, the AUBA counts 19 historically Black Baptist churches in Nova Scotia as part of its membership. Continuing its founding tradition, every August the AUBA gathers for music, worship and workshops.
Summary
- This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
- Reverend Richard Preston founded the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA), Canada’s oldest Black organization.
- The Reverend was a formerly enslaved African American who came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. He named himself after the Nova Scotian community of Preston.
- Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
Essential
This photograph shows the congregation of the Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church at a picnic around 1900.
Weymouth Falls was settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s. The African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) established the church there in 1854. The AUBA is Canada’s oldest Black organization.
The AUBA’s founder, Reverend Richard Preston, was enslaved in Virginia, and in 1816, came to Nova Scotia in search of his mother. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the town’s name in gratitude. He helped establish 11 Baptist churches and fought against slavery in the Maritimes.
Today, 19 historically Black Baptist churches are part of the AUBA. Every August, members gather for music, worship and workshops.
In-Depth
This photograph depicts the congregation of Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church, around the year 1900. Their formal attire is typical of the clothing worn at church picnics and other special events of the time.
Weymouth Falls was one of the communities settled by Black Loyalists in the 1780s (and also home to artist Harold Cromwell). A rural village located on the banks of the Sissiboo River, Weymouth is noted for its diverse blend of cultures, including African Nova Scotians, Mi’kmaq, British Loyalists, and Acadians.
Weymouth Falls African Baptist Church was one of seven churches established in 1854 by the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia (AUBA) — Canada’s oldest Black organization.
Founded by Reverend Richard Preston, the purpose of the AUBA was to connect African Nova Scotian Baptist churches across the province. As an organization created by Black people, in the service of Black people, the AUBA gave African Nova Scotians a sense of ownership in their religious life.
The Reverend, formerly enslaved in Virginia, arrived in Nova Scotia in 1816, in search of his mother, who had possibly come to the province with other Black refugees between 1813 and 1815. Finding her in the Black community of Preston, he took the community’s name as his own surname in gratitude.
Preston went on to have a significant impact on the religious and civic lives of African Nova Scotians. He helped to establish 11 Baptist churches in Nova Scotia, and became a leading figure in the abolitionist struggle in the Maritimes.
Today, the AUBA counts 19 historically Black Baptist churches in Nova Scotia as part of its membership. Continuing its founding tradition, every August the AUBA gathers for music, worship and workshops.