Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea provides amenities like a garden and laundry facilities. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
2 bedrooms2 bathrooms139 sq m
Popular amenities
Ocean view
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Add dates for prices
About this property
Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea
Here's a chance to rent an amazing fully furnished house that was once a Catholic church. Lovingly restored complete with spectacular stained glass, murals and breathtaking oak woodwork as well as lots of little treasures we're sure you'll enjoy.
St. Cecilia has two cozy bedrooms each with a queen-sized bed and superior linens. The master, once the choir loft, has a lovely two piece ensuite and is accessed through a staircase off the front hall. The second bedroom is an open loft style that is accessed by an enchanting spiral staircase in the great room.
You'll find everything you need in the well stocked kitchen: dishes, wine glasses, pots and pans, lobster pot, and coffee maker. The main bathroom with a combined shower/tub and stackable washer & dryer is on the ground floor and there is a 1/2 bath ensuite off the master. We provide towels and basic bathroom necessities and we clean to the highest standards.
There is high speed internet and the great room has a large wide screen TV with many popular streaming services (CBC Gem, Crave, Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV, Prime).
Located in beautiful Purcells Cove, only 15 minutes from downtown Halifax, 30 minutes from the Halifax International Airport and less than five minutes from the grocery store, pharmacy, liquor store and other essential amenities. We will share a list of our favorite restaurants and things to do before you arrive.
There is a public tennis court across the street, and access to several beautiful walking trails including the Shaw Wilderness Park. Minutes away from York Redoubt, a National Historic Site with breathtaking panoramic views of Halifax Harbour and lovely, easy walking trails. Crystal Crescent Beach, one of Nova Scotia's most popular beaches is a 20 minute drive. If you are without a car, there is a Halifax transit bus stop right at the foot of St. Cecilia Lane with easy connecting routes to all of Halifax's destinations.
If you want to stick close to home, you couldn't do better than relaxing on the deck overlooking Purcells Cove with your morning coffee or evening wine and watching the boats come and go. The deck's southern exposure allows you to enjoy both the sunrise and sunset over this beautiful little cove.
St. Cecilia by the Sea ...... The right amount of bliss!
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car recommended
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Kitchen island
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1.5 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a village
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near the bay
Near the marina
Near the ocean
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Whale watching nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
No parties allowed.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
This property does not allow children
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number STR2627A7722
We should mention
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property
About the neighborhood
Located in Halifax, this vacation home is by the ocean. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Long Lake Provincial Park and McCormacks Beach Provincial Park, while Museum of Natural History and Rebecca Cohn Auditorium are cultural highlights. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Scotiabank Centre or Dartmouth Sportsplex. Kayaking and motor boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and cycling nearby. Visit our Halifax travel guide
Is Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea located?
Situated by the ocean, this vacation home is 1.7 mi (2.8 km) from Sir Sandford Fleming Park and within 6 mi (10 km) of Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk and Long Lake Provincial Park. Chocolate Lake Beach and Halifax Shopping Centre are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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Amazing Unique Church for rent - St. Cecilia by the Sea Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
This unique and beautiful place deserves all the 5-star plaudits it receives from the lucky guests that have stayed here. I can only echo all those reviews. The tasteful curation of each element in the renovation. The East coast warmth of Lara in meeting me to detail the history. The peaceful and scenic location yet only 10-15min from downtown. The cleanliness and comfort throughout. It was a perfect send off for my last Christmas in Halifax!!
Best VRBO ever! This was the most unique place we’ve ever stayed and it was also incredibly clean and comfortable! Lara was so sweet and very accommodating! We LOVED our stay here ands wish we’d planned to spend more time. We drove the south shore and out to Digby as well! Highly recommend!!
The property is beyond superlatives! Even the photos don’t do it justice. Brett & Lara have taken extreme measures to make sure every eventuality/need is met and surpassed! Their recommendations for cafes, restaurants, and activities were spot-on! The care they have taken in making their guests comfortable is amazing! We want to come back and stay longer!
Wow! You can’t miss this one! I have been to 17 states staying at VRBOs and this is my favorite by far! The church was just gorgeous and Brett came over and explained the history and reconstruction of the church and that was fascinating! The kitchen was stocked with everything we needed. The beds were so comfortable and our stay was just lovely. Best location to explore Nova Scotia! We even had our own harbor and cool seating to view it. These were also the best hosts I have ever had. Don’t miss the unique experience of staying at this church with the beautiful furnishings and stained glass!
We had such an amazing stay. This place has some great history. Brett and Lara are awesome hosts. You definitely won’t go wrong by choosing to stay here.
We loved the church and the location as it was close to everything. We would definitely stay again and highly recommend it. The owners were friendly and quickly answered any questions we had. The weather hindered our ability to enjoy the outside space but the property was well manicured and inviting. We appreciated the multi charging stations for all our electronics.
This was definitely the highlight of our trip out East. The church house is amazing- rich, yet so comfortable. Brett and Lara were excellent hosts. We loved hearing about the history of the church house and some of the highlights of Brett’s interests. Truly a unique stay. I would highly recommend this
We loved staying here!! It was clean. It was so unique. We slept in the choir loft and Karen slept in the organ loft. Brett and Lara are great hosts!! In fact, we will be back there in 2 days.
Great location, unique and comfortable. First time in Halifax and hosts were very helpful. We will book this house again next time we're in Halifax!
Bruce H.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Daniel
7 September 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Not your average rental! St. Cecilia exceeded expectations in all areas. Incredible property with amazing story. Typically meeting the owners has not been a priority but definitely reach out to Brett and Lara for the history of the church, its renovation and the story behind many of the pieces adorning the property. Beds were super comfortable and St. Cecilia was well equipped. Location was perfect for our event at the Yacht Club, Peggys cove 40 minute drive and downtown Halifax 20 minutes. Sat on the deck at night for a nightcap and watched the deer while listening to the local seals. Definitely rebook when in the Halifax area again!
Loved our stay and had more than we needed. Such a comfortable, lively place! We will let it go haha but kept referring to it as “our church” 😊 Thank you to our hosts for a lovely visit.
The property was just as listed. It is a very unique, spacious, and comfortable lodging about 25 minutes outside of downtown Halifax in a quiet neighborhood. The kitchen is well-equipped and the decor is an attraction in itself. This was a good base from which to explore the Halifax area.The bed in the master bedroom was very comfortable but both bedrooms require the ability to climb stairs, including a steel spiral staircase to the second bedroom. A large screen TV with Apple TV, Wi-Fi, and device charging stations were available for use. The host personally renovated the property and is nearby if needed. Many tourist brochures, dining and entertainment guides were provided and very helpful for first-time visitors to Nova Scotia.For anyone seeking a different lodging experience from the standard, cookie-cutter hotel room or Victorian inn, this property delivers.
Stunningly restored chapel which surprises you at every turn. This was truly a beautiful place, indoors and outdoors
Brett and Lara are fantastic and friendly hosts, full of local knowledge. Allegedly Brett is going to write a book about it 😀
We cannot recommend The Church highly enough
We really enjoyed our stay at St Cecilia. Brett and Lara are wonderful hosts and you can see the amount of care and thought put into the design of the space. This was also evident in the landscaping around the space as well.
Hosts are warm and engaging and appear to love sharing this special place with travelers
My parents and I were blown away by this incredible home! Brett & Lara were fantastic hosts and we are in awe of how they have transformed this former church into the stunning space it is today. The location is fantastic, in a quiet area but just outside of the city. We can't recommend it enough!
This is an imaginatively restored church with all kinds of artistic detail throughout. It is also very comfortable inside with a nice space outside for relaxing if the weather is good. It also has one of the best equipped kitchens we have seen in a vacation rental. Engaging owners as well. All in all, a very worthy place to stay.
We wanted to stay somewhere different than your regular hotel and this was beyond our expectation. The host was quick to respond and gave us some wonderful recommendations on places to eat. The kitchen was well stocked with anything that one would need. The outside space was wonderful to sit and have a morning coffee. Would definitely stay here again the next time I’m back in the area.
We loved staying at Brett and Lara’s place. The decor, craftsmanship and attention to detail of this property cannot be beat! Our hosts anticipated our every need. Coming back to a clean and comfortable place was so welcome. We enjoyed talking with Brett and finding out about the history of the church, the paintings and the artifacts. We’d happily stay there again when we return to Halifax.
Beautiful facilities and outside garden are overlooking the harbor. Brett and Lara are so welcoming!
Excellent care in fact couldn't get the Dallas game and Lara came immediately over to fix the tv. Recommend you book immediately to assure your stay.
Our visit could not have been better. The church is great, it was super clean and it had everything we needed. Brett and Lara gave us our privacy but let us know they were available if needed. The area is beautiful and everything we needed was close by.
What an experience! This renovated church is an amazing place to spend time. It is very conveniently located for visiting Halifax, Despite the fact that it is in a secluded, beautiful and beautiful surrounding location. The host and his wife are extremely helpful and have included many wonderful extras to make your stay amazing!