O’Leary United Baptist Church
Title
O’Leary United Baptist Church
Church Name
O’Leary United Baptist Church
Church Association
Prince Edward Island Association
Province
Prince Edward Island
County
Prince County
Address
473 Main Street, O’Leary, PEI
Status
Active
Date
Built 1957
Historical Information
The Baptist presence in O’Leary can be traced back to 1862, when Ebenezer Lidstone and Henry Baker came to Cape Wolfe from Bedeque. These men encouraged the Baptist people of the area to come together in the homes of parishioners, and they later met in a local schoolhouse. As a result, a Baptist church was built a few years after 1862 in Cape Wolfe, which was received into the Baptist association in 1865.
Later, a church was built in Knutsford, in 1880. Work began on this facility in April and the exterior was nearly finished by early fall. The interior was finished a year later, and the church had its dedication service January 30, 1881. Around 1894 the Cape Wolfe and Knutsford churches merged to form the Springfield West Baptist Church in 1894. The Knutsford Baptist Church continued to be used along with the new Springfield West Baptist Church until the 1950’s, when it was decided a new facility should be built. This led way for the O’Leary Baptist Church to be constructed in 1957. After the Cape Wolfe and Knutsford congregations joined the congregations met in the Knutsford Baptist Church. It was later decided that this congregation was in need of a new facility. Where these churches are in O’Leary it was decided that the new facility be named accordingly and the O’Leary Baptist Church was built.
This church was dedicated May 5, 1957, and was designed in the mid-century modern style, popular in the mid-twentieth century. This building has a large auditorium space which houses the main sanctuary, offices, and a kitchen area and on the lower floor a large hall, classrooms, a kitchen, and toilet facilities. The church is the head church for the Springfield West – O’Leary United Baptist Church pastorate, with the pastor’s office and mail for both churches coming here. O’Leary Baptist Church is in fact a facility whose parishioners branched off from the Springfield West Baptist Church down the road, and stem from the joining of the Knutsford and Cape Wolfe Baptist churches.
The O’Leary Baptist Church is ideally situated off the road and the property is designed with the parsonage situated directly to the right of the church, with a large parking lot at the back. One does not realize how busy the street is from the property or inside the church. The building is atypical for its time in terms of style, with a steeply pitched roof, three bay façade on the front, and a centrally placed doorway and a large vertical window situated near the peak.
When the building was first constructed it had a small metal steeple situated near the front of the building on the peak. This has since been removed due to roofing issues and maintenance costs.
Information proved by Church and Frank Sinnott, History of the Baptists of Prince Edward Island, 1974.
Later, a church was built in Knutsford, in 1880. Work began on this facility in April and the exterior was nearly finished by early fall. The interior was finished a year later, and the church had its dedication service January 30, 1881. Around 1894 the Cape Wolfe and Knutsford churches merged to form the Springfield West Baptist Church in 1894. The Knutsford Baptist Church continued to be used along with the new Springfield West Baptist Church until the 1950’s, when it was decided a new facility should be built. This led way for the O’Leary Baptist Church to be constructed in 1957. After the Cape Wolfe and Knutsford congregations joined the congregations met in the Knutsford Baptist Church. It was later decided that this congregation was in need of a new facility. Where these churches are in O’Leary it was decided that the new facility be named accordingly and the O’Leary Baptist Church was built.
This church was dedicated May 5, 1957, and was designed in the mid-century modern style, popular in the mid-twentieth century. This building has a large auditorium space which houses the main sanctuary, offices, and a kitchen area and on the lower floor a large hall, classrooms, a kitchen, and toilet facilities. The church is the head church for the Springfield West – O’Leary United Baptist Church pastorate, with the pastor’s office and mail for both churches coming here. O’Leary Baptist Church is in fact a facility whose parishioners branched off from the Springfield West Baptist Church down the road, and stem from the joining of the Knutsford and Cape Wolfe Baptist churches.
The O’Leary Baptist Church is ideally situated off the road and the property is designed with the parsonage situated directly to the right of the church, with a large parking lot at the back. One does not realize how busy the street is from the property or inside the church. The building is atypical for its time in terms of style, with a steeply pitched roof, three bay façade on the front, and a centrally placed doorway and a large vertical window situated near the peak.
When the building was first constructed it had a small metal steeple situated near the front of the building on the peak. This has since been removed due to roofing issues and maintenance costs.
Information proved by Church and Frank Sinnott, History of the Baptists of Prince Edward Island, 1974.
Files
Collection
Citation
“O’Leary United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 2, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/289.