Salisbury Baptist Church
Title
Salisbury Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Church Name
Salisbury Baptist Church
Church Association
Westmoreland/Kent Association
Province
New Brunswick
County
Westmorland County
Address
3128 Main St, Salisbury
Status
Active
Date
Originally built prior to 1879, Current building 1901
Historical Information
Salisbury Baptist Church (SBC) has a long and storied history that began in 1800. The founder of the Baptist work in the area was Reverend Joseph Crandall, born in Tiverton, Rhode Island in 1772. He settled in Chester, Nova Scotia as a child and later became an ordained minister. Reverend Crandall played a crucial role in establishing numerous Baptist churches in New Brunswick, including the Salisbury congregation.
Under Reverend Crandall's leadership, the Salisbury Baptist Church flourished for over five decades. He served as its pastor for an incredible 58 years until his passing in 1858. Reverend Crandall's legacy is still felt within the church, as some of his descendants continue to be active members.
The earliest church building used by the congregation was a log cabin situated on the Salisbury back road. This modest structure served as the house of worship for the community for many years. In 1879, a second building was constructed near the pioneer cemetery. As Salisbury grew, the congregation moved to the other side of the river, where a third church building was erected. This building eventually became known as the church hall, and was used for overflow Sunday School space, community events, and even school classes during emergencies.
In 1901, the present church building, the fourth in its history, was completed and dedicated. The original section of the church was inaugurated in a special ceremony on June 2, 1901. The building featured a spacious sanctuary and was furnished at a cost of approximately three thousand dollars. Over the years, the church underwent renovations and improvements to meet the evolving needs of the congregation. Like many churches built in the early twentieth century, the structure symbolizes a transitional phase of Atlantic baptist church architecture, moving away from a symmetrical style building with a centrally placed steeple, to one that is off-balance, with the front entrance and steeple positioned on the side of the building.
Notable additions include the construction of a basement and the installation of an oil furnace in 1950. In 1955, a new baptistery with a beautiful background painting was added, created by Henri Lanctin Jr. The basement was further enhanced in 1958, providing self-contained Sunday School classrooms and a modern kitchen.
As the community of Salisbury expanded, so did the congregation. In 1973, a church center with multiple classrooms was constructed in the basement area to accommodate the growing Sunday School and youth programs. An expansion program in 1982 extended the original sanctuary, effectively doubling its seating capacity.
Throughout the 1980s, the church maintained various youth programs and hired its first youth pastor in 1988, providing additional leadership. In the year 2000, SBC celebrated its 200th anniversary with a year-long series of events, including an anniversary dinner and guest speakers.
Over time, the church's name changed to reflect the evolving conventions and community identity. Originally known as the First United Baptist Church of Salisbury, it became the First Baptist Church of Salisbury before finally adopting the name Salisbury Baptist Church Inc. in 2005. More recently, the church has embraced the name SBC within its church family and the local community.
In 2004, a new addition was opened, providing modern gymnasium and kitchen facilities, along with administrative offices. In 2016, the main platform of the church underwent a complete renovation, including the replacement of pews with modern chairs, resulting in a significant transformation of the sanctuary.
Today, SBC continues to be a pillar in the Salisbury community and the surrounding area. The church serves as a hub for various community activities and ministry groups, and hosts numerous major music events throughout the year.
Information provided by Salisbury United Baptist Church.
Under Reverend Crandall's leadership, the Salisbury Baptist Church flourished for over five decades. He served as its pastor for an incredible 58 years until his passing in 1858. Reverend Crandall's legacy is still felt within the church, as some of his descendants continue to be active members.
The earliest church building used by the congregation was a log cabin situated on the Salisbury back road. This modest structure served as the house of worship for the community for many years. In 1879, a second building was constructed near the pioneer cemetery. As Salisbury grew, the congregation moved to the other side of the river, where a third church building was erected. This building eventually became known as the church hall, and was used for overflow Sunday School space, community events, and even school classes during emergencies.
In 1901, the present church building, the fourth in its history, was completed and dedicated. The original section of the church was inaugurated in a special ceremony on June 2, 1901. The building featured a spacious sanctuary and was furnished at a cost of approximately three thousand dollars. Over the years, the church underwent renovations and improvements to meet the evolving needs of the congregation. Like many churches built in the early twentieth century, the structure symbolizes a transitional phase of Atlantic baptist church architecture, moving away from a symmetrical style building with a centrally placed steeple, to one that is off-balance, with the front entrance and steeple positioned on the side of the building.
Notable additions include the construction of a basement and the installation of an oil furnace in 1950. In 1955, a new baptistery with a beautiful background painting was added, created by Henri Lanctin Jr. The basement was further enhanced in 1958, providing self-contained Sunday School classrooms and a modern kitchen.
As the community of Salisbury expanded, so did the congregation. In 1973, a church center with multiple classrooms was constructed in the basement area to accommodate the growing Sunday School and youth programs. An expansion program in 1982 extended the original sanctuary, effectively doubling its seating capacity.
Throughout the 1980s, the church maintained various youth programs and hired its first youth pastor in 1988, providing additional leadership. In the year 2000, SBC celebrated its 200th anniversary with a year-long series of events, including an anniversary dinner and guest speakers.
Over time, the church's name changed to reflect the evolving conventions and community identity. Originally known as the First United Baptist Church of Salisbury, it became the First Baptist Church of Salisbury before finally adopting the name Salisbury Baptist Church Inc. in 2005. More recently, the church has embraced the name SBC within its church family and the local community.
In 2004, a new addition was opened, providing modern gymnasium and kitchen facilities, along with administrative offices. In 2016, the main platform of the church underwent a complete renovation, including the replacement of pews with modern chairs, resulting in a significant transformation of the sanctuary.
Today, SBC continues to be a pillar in the Salisbury community and the surrounding area. The church serves as a hub for various community activities and ministry groups, and hosts numerous major music events throughout the year.
Information provided by Salisbury United Baptist Church.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Salisbury Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 3, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/403.