Wellington Ney States, 1877-1927 : life and work with the African United Baptist Churches

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to present a biographical sketch of the life and work of Wellington Ney States, with particular emphasis on his ministry with the African Baptist Churches, and his contribution to the education of Black Nova Scotians. Primary and secondary sources were investigated including interviews with relatives and persons who were members of his congregation at New Glasgow. The synthesis and interpretation of these data presented in a chronological order show Reverend States as a Church builder and a Race leader. Reverend States recognized the importance of a Church in the Black Community; subsequently, he utilized his energy to construct churches in the following areas: Cobequid Road, Delaps Cove, Granville Ferry, Hammonds Plains, New Glasgow, and Sunnyville. He also completed major renovations on African Baptist Churches at: Beech Hill, Cherrybrook, Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Inglewood. Through his sermons he endeavored to teach his membership values necessary for daily living. In addition, he inculcated a level of racial consciousness in several communities which enabled the members to actualize their potential through the accomplishment of major tasks. Reverend States developed a personal interest in the functioning of organizations and used his expertise to promote co-ordination in all Church activities. Years of zealous and conscientious service earned for him a position of leadership in the wider community. He was a committee member of the Eastern Association and the Northern Association of the Maritime Baptist Convention, also a compiler of minutes of the African United Baptist Association and a reporter for the Convention of Maritime Baptist. Wellington Ney States lived an exemplary life, dedicated totally to the service of God and fellow human beings. He spent himself for both, dying at the comparatively early age of fifty.