Artist Charlie Marven poses for photo with a new installation at the intersection of Gottingen Street and Falkland Street, the former site of the Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Wednesday. - Ryan TaplinHe grew up just down the street, but artist Charlie Marven had no idea what once stood on the corner of Gottingen and Falkland streets in Halifax.
Upon discovering more about the history, including significant figures who once walked through its doors, staff put out a call for artists in 2021 to design a commemorative panel to commemorate the church and its contributions to the African Nova Scotian community. “We wanted to do something that would stand out, so we took your typical HRM interpretive panel with the information and basically turned the panel itself into artwork.”
A close-up of the artwork by Charlie Marven as part of a new installation at the intersection of Gottingen Street and Falkland Street, the former site of the Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Wednesday. - Ryan TaplinThe church opened its doors in 1846 and played host to significant historical figures through the years.
During a panel discussion, Dr. Rev. Elias Mwamba Mutale said the church was a place that offered safety for the Black congregation during a time when conditions were “barbaric.”. Rev. Anna Lee Hunter revived the church in Halifax from 1976-86, closing due to dwindling numbers.