The Church survived the Halifax Explosion of 1917 and served as a temporary shelter for survivors for the rest of the winter . Soon after the explosion , Rev. William A. White worked at the church for 17 years until he died in 1936 . In 1937 , William Pearly Oliver became the minister and by 1945 he and the church developed the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People . The Church was instrumental in supporting the case of Viola Desmond through the courts in the first year Oliver was the minister . Oliver worked at the church for twenty-five years , until 1962
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
New Horizons Baptist Church