First Baptist Church, Victoria, BC
Location: Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Surnames/tags: congregations religion
On May 3, 1876 fifteen people met to organize the First Baptist Church. They were: William Carnes, Fielding Spotts, Alexander Clyde, Julia Spotts, Mrs. Fanny Clyde, Thomas W. Pierie, Caleb Bishop, Alfred Oldershaw, Mrs. Johnson, Thomas Mathews, John Sluggett, Augustus Christopher, Madison F. Bailey, Mrs. Sally Page, Mrs. Mary A. Bailey. This was the first Baptist cause to be inaugurated in British Columbia, and indeed the first Canadian Baptist work west of Winnipeg. The following January, the “Baptist Chapel” was built and the first baptismal service in the province was conducted with 3 persons being baptized on February 2, 1877.
In the following years the church went through many transformations, brought about by times of prosperity and tribulations. On July 24, 1907, the church, known at the time as Calvary Baptist Church, was burned to the ground. “There was nothing saved but a few hymn books and the piano which was old and of little worth.” The Central and Calvary congregations continued to meet in rented buildings. During the following months Calvary suffered a steady loss of congregation, most joining with Central. On December 3, 1908 Calvary Baptist became officially known as First Baptist Church and began looking for a new home. In 1911 a property at Fisgard and Vancouver Streets was finally chosen.
The land where the church stands today was bought in 1964. It was not until November 16, 1975 that the new church building at Quadra and North Park Streets opened. September 19, 1976 marked the church building dedicated and the church has remained until this day.
https://www.firstbaptistvictoria.org/history
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