Penobsquis United Baptist Church
Title
Penobsquis United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Kings County Museum, New Brunswick
Church Name
Penobsquis United Baptist Church
Church Association
Saint John - Kings Association
Province
New Brunswick
County
Kings County
Address
27 Church Loop Road, Penobsquis, NB
Status
Active
Date
Originally built 1828, 1875 current building after 1959
Historical Information
The church, organized in 1823, was originally called the Baptist Church of Sussex. It was the first such church in the then very large parish of Sussex. Evidently there were some Baptist interest long before that, for Rev. I. E. Bill in his "History of the Baptists" notes that Benedict in 1813, speaks of a Baptist church in Sussex. Soon after organization, this part of Sussex parish was being called Upper Settlement as distinct from the lower settlement of Sussex Vale–actually what is now called Sussex Corner.
By 1865 the church was being called the "Baptist" Church at Penobsquis. This led to confusion, however, as the Free Christian Baptist Church of Penobsquis also used the name. In 1874 Sussex parish was divided into the parishes of Sussex, Cardwell and Waterford. Penobsquis is in Cardwell parish - a word seldom used now. In 1882 the members officially changed the name to Cardwell Baptist Church. When the Regular and Free Christian Baptists united in 1905, the name became the Cardwell United Baptist Church. Following the fire which destroyed the Penobsquis United Baptist Church in July 1957 , the Cardwell and Penobsquis congregations united to form a new church. On motion of Mrs. Walter Murray, a member of the Cardwell United Baptist Church, the name became The United Baptist Church at Penobsquis. In succession the name was Baptist Church of Sussex, Upper Settlement Church, Upper Sussex, Baptist Church at Penobsquis, Cardwell Baptist Church and now, since 1957 the new church, the United Baptist Church at Penobsquis.
The first Baptist Church at Penobsquis (1928), was most likely built in the Meeting House style, a style common among Baptists of Atlantic Canada. The style is characterized by being 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.
The second church, built in 1875, was somewhat unusual for its time, in terms of the amount of architectural elements. This church was a prime example of a church built in the Gothic Revival Style. Some of the most striking features of this church were the five gothic revival windows found on the eaves side of the structure, along with the eyebrow trim above the windows. The most notable and striking feature of this facility, however, would have to be the three-bay front facade. Each bay is separated by corner pilasters that reach high above the pitch of the roof. Each side bay has a gothic revival window, and tall pinnacle on each end of the roofline. The doorway was centrally placed and had a tall, slender tower, with a four pointed crown, and internal bell. This church was destroyed by fire in 1959.
After the Penobsquis church burned, the congregation moved and met with the Cardwell United Baptist Church congregation. This church was located where the Cardwell Cemetery is located today, and is across the road from the present church. This church, built a few years after the fire, is typical for its time in terms of size and style.
This building was part of the Sussex/Cardwell Parish, which also included the Portage Valley, and South Branch Baptist Churches, and formerly Dutch Valley, and Cardwell.
Information from Kings County Museum, NB
By 1865 the church was being called the "Baptist" Church at Penobsquis. This led to confusion, however, as the Free Christian Baptist Church of Penobsquis also used the name. In 1874 Sussex parish was divided into the parishes of Sussex, Cardwell and Waterford. Penobsquis is in Cardwell parish - a word seldom used now. In 1882 the members officially changed the name to Cardwell Baptist Church. When the Regular and Free Christian Baptists united in 1905, the name became the Cardwell United Baptist Church. Following the fire which destroyed the Penobsquis United Baptist Church in July 1957 , the Cardwell and Penobsquis congregations united to form a new church. On motion of Mrs. Walter Murray, a member of the Cardwell United Baptist Church, the name became The United Baptist Church at Penobsquis. In succession the name was Baptist Church of Sussex, Upper Settlement Church, Upper Sussex, Baptist Church at Penobsquis, Cardwell Baptist Church and now, since 1957 the new church, the United Baptist Church at Penobsquis.
The first Baptist Church at Penobsquis (1928), was most likely built in the Meeting House style, a style common among Baptists of Atlantic Canada. The style is characterized by being 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.
The second church, built in 1875, was somewhat unusual for its time, in terms of the amount of architectural elements. This church was a prime example of a church built in the Gothic Revival Style. Some of the most striking features of this church were the five gothic revival windows found on the eaves side of the structure, along with the eyebrow trim above the windows. The most notable and striking feature of this facility, however, would have to be the three-bay front facade. Each bay is separated by corner pilasters that reach high above the pitch of the roof. Each side bay has a gothic revival window, and tall pinnacle on each end of the roofline. The doorway was centrally placed and had a tall, slender tower, with a four pointed crown, and internal bell. This church was destroyed by fire in 1959.
After the Penobsquis church burned, the congregation moved and met with the Cardwell United Baptist Church congregation. This church was located where the Cardwell Cemetery is located today, and is across the road from the present church. This church, built a few years after the fire, is typical for its time in terms of size and style.
This building was part of the Sussex/Cardwell Parish, which also included the Portage Valley, and South Branch Baptist Churches, and formerly Dutch Valley, and Cardwell.
Information from Kings County Museum, NB
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Penobsquis United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 28, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/414.