In 1816, the first Black Refugees arrived in Beechville (aka Beech Hill). The early settlers of the community were refugee Blacks fleeing from the USA.
The Government of Nova Scotia granted one thousand acres of land near the North West Arm for the Refugees to use. In 1821 ninety-six adults resettled in Trinidad.
The Beechville community spiritual leadership was under the care of Baptist Pastor, Rev. John Burton from England. Rev. Burton preached in Beechville as well as many other communities but did not establish a permanent meeting house. In 1844, Rev. Richard Preston, a refugee from the USA, who was a close follower and mentored by Rev. Burton, established the first permanent meeting house/church of Beechville Baptist Church.
Rev. Preston remained in Beechville until 1861. In Following Rev. Preston the care of the flock in Beechville was provided by many different Pastors, Deacons and Licentiates, including the Rev. Dr. W.P. Oliver, who pastured the Beechville Church for over 50 years.
The old dilated school was abandoned in 1949 and the Beechville Baptist Church donated land for a new school which is now the Beechville Baptist Church Center.
Baptisms took place in the nearby lake, Lovett Lake, the candidates would walk down to the lake by the Historical Baptismal Path.
In 1965 segregation was abolished in Nova Scotia and the Beechville students were educated at the Beechville Lakeside Consolidated School in Lakeside.
A new Church was built on the same site as the old Church and was dedicated on April 29, 1979, with an inside Baptistry.
In 2014 the Beechville Baptist Church celebrated 170 years of existence.
Loyalist Connections Podcast on Beechville: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/beechville-connections-to-urban-development/id1578743939?i=1000540695343
