Free Meeting House
Title
Free Meeting House
Church Name
Free Meeting House
Church Association
N/A
Province
New Brunswick
County
Westmoreland County
Address
140-152 Steadman Street, Moncton, New Brunswick
Status
Active
Date
Built 1821
Historical Information
The Free Meeting House consists of a New England style meetinghouse, its grounds and adjacent graveyard located at 140-152 Steadman Street in Moncton. Built in 1821 as an omni-denominational place of worship for early settlers of “The Bend” region of the Petitcodiac River, it stands in its original location at the corner of Steadman Street and Mountain Road. It originated as a Baptist Meeting House; later it was used by Methodists, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Seventh Day Adventists.
The Free Meeting House is designated as a Local Historic Place not only because it is the first and oldest public building erected in Moncton, but also due to its unique architecture within this region. Constructed in 1821, the Free Meeting House sits on land donated by Hannah and William Steadman, the current street’s namesake. It was also the first building in Moncton to have a commemorative tablet during its centennial celebrations in 1921. This New England style meetinghouse is the only building of its kind in Moncton and its grounds contain the
oldest burial site in the area. Most of the founders of the Free Meeting House are interred here, including the Steadmans and original trustees, Ichabod Lewis and Solomon Trites.
Research suggests that Shepherd Johnson Frost, a renowned New England architect who moved to New Brunswick in 1817, may have had a hand in the planning of, if not the building of, the Free Meeting House.
The Free Meeting House is also designated because of its lasting religious and community significance for Moncton. Designed by the earliest settlers of the area as a temporary place of worship for any denomination while permanent churches were being planned and built, some religious groups made it their home for as many as 57 years. Almost every religion present over the years in Moncton had its beginnings at the Free Meeting House. Denominations shared and occupied the Free Meeting House since its construction in 1821 until the end of its strictly religious function in 1963.
The spirit of religious and secular cooperation is exemplified by The Free Meeting House’s 1921 centennial preparations. After a century of remodeling and periodic neglect, the trustees of the Free Meeting House, along with religious groups such as the Seven-Day Adventists and secular groups such as the Flat Iron Gang, worked side by side to rejuvenate the structure and the grounds.
Second photo is circa 1892.
Information from Canada Historic Places and Richardson, P., Richardson, D. S., & De Visser, J. Canadian Churches: An Architectural History. Firefly Books: 2007.
The Free Meeting House is designated as a Local Historic Place not only because it is the first and oldest public building erected in Moncton, but also due to its unique architecture within this region. Constructed in 1821, the Free Meeting House sits on land donated by Hannah and William Steadman, the current street’s namesake. It was also the first building in Moncton to have a commemorative tablet during its centennial celebrations in 1921. This New England style meetinghouse is the only building of its kind in Moncton and its grounds contain the
oldest burial site in the area. Most of the founders of the Free Meeting House are interred here, including the Steadmans and original trustees, Ichabod Lewis and Solomon Trites.
Research suggests that Shepherd Johnson Frost, a renowned New England architect who moved to New Brunswick in 1817, may have had a hand in the planning of, if not the building of, the Free Meeting House.
The Free Meeting House is also designated because of its lasting religious and community significance for Moncton. Designed by the earliest settlers of the area as a temporary place of worship for any denomination while permanent churches were being planned and built, some religious groups made it their home for as many as 57 years. Almost every religion present over the years in Moncton had its beginnings at the Free Meeting House. Denominations shared and occupied the Free Meeting House since its construction in 1821 until the end of its strictly religious function in 1963.
The spirit of religious and secular cooperation is exemplified by The Free Meeting House’s 1921 centennial preparations. After a century of remodeling and periodic neglect, the trustees of the Free Meeting House, along with religious groups such as the Seven-Day Adventists and secular groups such as the Flat Iron Gang, worked side by side to rejuvenate the structure and the grounds.
Second photo is circa 1892.
Information from Canada Historic Places and Richardson, P., Richardson, D. S., & De Visser, J. Canadian Churches: An Architectural History. Firefly Books: 2007.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Free Meeting House,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 14, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/251.