author
D. A. (David Allen) Steele
1838–1931
A Baptist minister, local historian, and literary critic, this Nova Scotia writer spent decades recording the people, churches, and community life of Amherst. His work is especially valued for preserving Baptist and regional history in clear, practical detail.
1 Audiobook
One hundred years with the Baptists of Amherst, N.S., 1810 to 1910 : A brief summary of the centenary proceedings of the First Baptist Church, Amherst, N.S.
by D. A. (David Allen) Steele, Grace McLeod Rogers
About the author
Born in Eardisland, Herefordshire, on September 17, 1838, he moved to Canada with his family as a child and grew up in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Before entering the ministry, he worked for a time as a printer, then studied at Acadia University, where he earned a B.A. in 1865, later followed by an M.A. and a Doctor of Divinity.
Ordained in June 1865, he first served as a Baptist pastor in Canso, Nova Scotia. In 1867 he became pastor of the Amherst Baptist Church, a role he held until 1896, and he continued afterward as pastor emeritus until his death in Amherst on January 19, 1931. He was also active in education, serving for many years on local school boards and as a member of the Board of Governors of Acadia University.
Alongside his ministry, he built a reputation as a literary critic and writer. His best-known works include A Short History of Amherst, A Longer History of Amherst (1809-1910), A History of the Amherst Baptist Church, and One hundred years with the Baptists of Amherst, N.S., 1810 to 1910. Together, these writings make him an important voice in the religious and local history of Nova Scotia.