Midland United Baptist Church
Title
Midland United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Kings County Museum, New Brunswick
Church Name
Midland United Baptist Church
Church Association
Saint John - Kings Association
Province
New Brunswick
County
Kings County
Address
4 Upper Midland Rd, Norton NB
Status
Active
Date
Originally built 1833, current building built 1865
Historical Information
The Midland Free Baptist Church was organized in 1833. This building was situated near and faced Highway 40, then known as Finger Board Road. During this time, the congregation traveled by horseback or foot to attend Sunday gatherings. Some of the old seats from this facility still exist, in homes and in the current church. This facility was later sold and torn down.
As the group grew, there was a need for a new church building to be constructed. Just this happened in 1865. Both the first and second building were built in the Meeting House style, common among Baptists in Atlantic Canada during the time. This style is characterized by a 1 ½ wood-frame construction, with either one or two entranceways located on the gable end. One can tell a lot about the beliefs of a congregation by examining their architecture. Often when there are two doors, one located on each side of the front facade, one door was used by the men, and the other by the women. With this style, things often happen in sets of three, such as the three Gothic Revival windows located on each side, symbolizing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This church is set apart by the fact that there are four Gothic Revival windows found on either side, along with two of the same size and style, situated above one-another on the gable end. The building is made of wood, and has wooden clad boards on the exterior of the structure. The front entranceway is centrally placed on the gable end, and close to the peak of the structure there is a pointed gothic window, mimicking that of the points on the windows, located on the sides of the structure. The entranceway door is situated on the left side of the front stoop area.
In August 1905, the Norton, and Midland Free Baptist Churches asked Kiersteadville and Long Point Churches to unite with them to form a pastorate. This union was dissolved upon mutual agreement in 1997. The three churches still maintain a good working relationship and on occasion join together for a time of worship and fellowship. The church underwent a major renovation with the first sod turned in 1986. This resulted in the worship center being turned around and a fellowship room, kitchen and two washrooms added on the main floor and a nursery and Sunday School rooms added downstairs. Further renovations happened in 2003 to our youth and children's center downstairs.
Information from the Kings County Museum, NB.
As the group grew, there was a need for a new church building to be constructed. Just this happened in 1865. Both the first and second building were built in the Meeting House style, common among Baptists in Atlantic Canada during the time. This style is characterized by a 1 ½ wood-frame construction, with either one or two entranceways located on the gable end. One can tell a lot about the beliefs of a congregation by examining their architecture. Often when there are two doors, one located on each side of the front facade, one door was used by the men, and the other by the women. With this style, things often happen in sets of three, such as the three Gothic Revival windows located on each side, symbolizing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This church is set apart by the fact that there are four Gothic Revival windows found on either side, along with two of the same size and style, situated above one-another on the gable end. The building is made of wood, and has wooden clad boards on the exterior of the structure. The front entranceway is centrally placed on the gable end, and close to the peak of the structure there is a pointed gothic window, mimicking that of the points on the windows, located on the sides of the structure. The entranceway door is situated on the left side of the front stoop area.
In August 1905, the Norton, and Midland Free Baptist Churches asked Kiersteadville and Long Point Churches to unite with them to form a pastorate. This union was dissolved upon mutual agreement in 1997. The three churches still maintain a good working relationship and on occasion join together for a time of worship and fellowship. The church underwent a major renovation with the first sod turned in 1986. This resulted in the worship center being turned around and a fellowship room, kitchen and two washrooms added on the main floor and a nursery and Sunday School rooms added downstairs. Further renovations happened in 2003 to our youth and children's center downstairs.
Information from the Kings County Museum, NB.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Midland United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 29, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/413.