Willow Grove Baptist Church
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Historical Information
The Willow Grove Baptist Church was built in 1875 and opened in 1878 by the Reverend Edmund H. Duval. This church is located in Simonds Parish, New Brunswick; however, Willow Grove was formerly known as the African Grant, due to the large number of African refugees that received grants in the region.
A Deacon of Germain Street Baptist Church, Saint John, in 1870 Edmund H. Duval received a certificate of licence to preach from that congregation. He fought to improve social conditions for the descendants of Black Loyalists, particularly those living at Loch Lomond, also known as Willow Grove, located near Saint John. To better assist blacks at Willow Grove, he bought a farm there and taught residents farming techniques. He was instrumental in the construction of Willow Grove Baptist Church in the 1870s, which was considered a mission of Germain Street Baptist Church.
This church was constructed in the Victorian Gothic Revival style. Some of the most striking exterior features of this church included the eyebrow label mouldings over the rounded tops of the windows, on either side of the structure. The building had a centrally placed doorway on the gable end. Some of the most striking features of the front façade were the three finials, one on either side of the roof, near the ends and one centrally placed on the peak. This feature was typical of the Victorian Gothic Revival structures. Each of these finials on the sides of the building had corner pilaster boards, resembling large ornate columns. Another interesting feature was the medallion window situated near the peak and the large window situated above the doorway. The building had a steeply pitched roof, typical for its time in terms of style. It is unknown when this church was destroyed, but a small, shed sits where the church once stood.
Information provided by mynewbrunswick.ca.