Shediac Bay Community Church

Some time prior to 1840, the Baptist Church in Shediac purchased one acre of land from Robert Atkinson for £50 with the sole purpose of erecting ‘a suitable house to be dedicated to the Worship of Almighty God.’

The ‘suitable house’ was built in 1840 and remained at this location until 1906 when it was moved across Shediac Bay on the ice to 296 Main Street. The move was one of faith in the hope that by doing so, they could carry the message to more people. Unfortunately this was not the case. The building was purchased by R. Chesley Tait in 1909 and converted into dwellings. Over the years, the building has served as a private residence, a doctor’s office, and a law firm. Since the 1980s it has been run as an inn and restaurant. It is now a designated Local Historic Place.

Ezra Taylor moved to Shediac from Salisbury, and in 1909 constructed the second Baptist Church in the same spot as the original church (133 Hannington Road). It is believed his move was motivated by a desire to re-establish a Baptist presence in the area.

Throughout most of the forty years between 1910 and 1950, the church was near capacity for most services, including Sunday School. Approximately 80% of those attending were relatives, all descendants of Ezra and Ida Taylor. From the 1960s onwards, attendance fluctuated due to the lack of facilities.

In 2002, the membership went forward with a plan to construct a new, larger church. In 2003, a new street to the church site was created behind the location of the original church.  This was followed in 2006 by a firm plan to go forward with the planning phase of the new building.

In November 2008, Shediac Baptist Church moved out of the Hannington Road church and shared facilities with the much larger Trinity United Church. The last service there was on Sunday May 30, 2010. From Sunday June 6 – September 2010, the church held services in a large tent.

In October 2010, the first service was held in the new church building and the church was renamed Shediac Bay Community Church.

The original Hannington Road church (1909) was designated a Local Historic Place in 2005, but has since been converted into a dental clinic.