First Hampstead United Baptist Church
Title
Church Name
Church Association
Province
County
Address
Status
Date
Historical Information
The First Hampstead United Baptist Church is a prime example of a Baptist Meeting House in the Victorian Gothic Revival style. The Meeting House style of church was a common style among Protestant congregations in early to mid-nineteenth century Atlantic Canada. This style is often characterized by its small and rather plain facility, with no steeple, and gothic embellishments. The front entrance was often on the gable end, with either two entrances, one on the left and right sides of the front façade, one meant for the men and the other for women; or a centrally placed doorway.
Victorian Gothic Revival is characterized by a vast amount of architectural detailing both on the interior and exterior of the structure. Some of the most striking features of this building include ornate, carved corner pilaster boards, and right-angle gingerbread trims on the eaves. Another striking feature of this structure is the ornate trim around the Gothic Revival window, directly above the centrally placed entranceway on the gable end. Size and proportion are emphasized on buildings from this period and style, with the number three being used constantly, symbolizing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The front façade of this church has three bays, and each side of the structure has three Gothic Revival style windows.
This church, built in Canada’s confederation year, stood tall in the farm fields near Gagetown. It sold for $1,900 at auction in 2014.
Over the years, the church’s congregation had dwindled, and its remaining parishioners couldn’t afford to keep the church open. Before it was up for auction it only had about a dozen members, with around three of them being active in church affairs.
After hosting hundreds of baptisms, weddings, and funerals, the church opened its doors to the public for one last time in 2014 for people to bid on its pews, pulpit and even the church Christmas tree.
This church has since been sold and has now been moved and turned into a summer residence.
Information provided by the church.