First Baptist Moncton

Following evangelistic meetings at the Free Meeting House led by Elder Joseph Crandall, a group of converts came together and organized the Moncton Baptized Church of Christ at the Free Meeting House on June 8, 1828. The church later became First Moncton United Baptist Church and is the oldest continuing Protestant congregation in the city.

The growing congregation constructed their own church at the corner of Church Street and Queen Street and moved to their new church in 1857. Electric lights were installed in 1886, and one year later, the church was remodelled and expanded with two side wings and a rear extension. In 1909, a three manual Casavant organ, with 1,823 pipes was installed.

Tragically, in 1913, a fire which started in the Victoria Rink nearby, completely destroyed the beautiful wooden structure. The congregation faithfully responded to the challenge and in 1914 the cornerstone of the new building was laid, with services being held in the basement by December.

On May 16, 1915, the new building was dedicated. The Sanctuary featured 1,100 seats and a 35-stop Casavant organ. The cost of the building and furnishings came to $89,946.

In 1918, the Vestry, Brotherhood Hall and Sunshine Room served as an emergency hospital for those with the Spanish influenza. 

A few years later, on Easter Sunday of 1921, a memorial stained-glass window was dedicated, honouring the 37 church members who lost their lives in the war. In 1945, following World War II, a second memorial window was dedicated, honouring a further 26 church members who lost their lives.

With both numerical and program growth, the congregation added the Christian Education facility in 1958, a modern facility set apart for “the teaching of the Word of God in both precept and example”. The building and furnishings cost $236,811.

In 2001, the church again relied on the faithfulness of the congregation to raise approximately $750,000, which was used to pay off debt, and to carry out renovations and upgrades of the facilities. These included work on the church foundation, bell tower, accessibility, a new electrical entrance and upgrade, new heating boilers and conversion to natural gas, and organ refurbishment.

To make the facilities more accessible for all, in 2006, the link connecting the Christian Education building and church building was modified to include a lift and a new wheelchair accessible entrance from Queen Street.

The most recent renovations were completed in the summer of 2011. Inside the church building, major upgrades included modern lighting, sound and technical equipment, and renovations in the Sanctuary and Vestry, providing up-to-date capabilities without altering appearance.

First Baptist Moncton was formally recognized as a Local Historic Place in 1996.

Information (edited for brevity) from https://www.firstmoncton.com/ourhistory