Vista Independent Baptist Church, formerly Clarenville United Baptist Church
Title
Vista Independent Baptist Church, formerly Clarenville United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Vista Independent Baptist Church
Church Name
Vista Independent Baptist Church, formerly Clarenville United Baptist Church
Church Association
Independent
Province
Newfoundland & Labrador
County
Newfoundland & Labrador
Address
2 Trinity Place, Clarenville, NL
Status
Active
Date
Built circa 1950
Historical Information
The Vista Independent Baptist Church, formerly Clarenceville United Baptist Church structure, had its beginnings as a Catholic Church. The original location of this church was where the Home Hardware is now (2023) on 214 Memorial Drive, where the church was used by the Catholic congregation. In 1980, with the formation of the Clarenville United Baptist Church, the church was moved to its present location, by two dump trucks on skids.
The Clarenville United Baptist Church congregation existed for about 15 to 20 years. At thispoint a New Life congregation rented the building for a few years; then the building sat vacant for a number of years after the dissolution of that congregation. After the disbanding of the congregation, ownership of the structure passed to what is today known as the CBAC, who sold the structure to the Vista Independent Baptist Church in 2003.
The Vista Independent Baptist Church started in 2001, where they rented a building in the town of Clarenville. When they purchased this structure it was in very rough shape; There had been a flood in the back hall addition thatwas devastating for the structure.
The original structure appears to have been built in the 1950s, based on the architectural style of the structure. The original footprint, when in its original location, and a few years after it was moved, was just the sanctuary. This building has a centrally placed doorway on the front facade, with a striking gothic revival style window set up high close to the peak of the roof. The building has a rather short saddleback steeple set above the doorway. On each side of the structure there are four, relatively new vinyl windows. Originally, the windows had four windows on each side with the window dividers making a ‘v’ shape. The Clarenville Baptist congregation constructed an addition on the back of the building, which includes a recreational space, kitchen and office for the minister.
The sanctuary space originally had 8 - 10 foot straight-backed pews, but these were taken out during extensive renovation efforts by the Vista Independent congregation. Little remains of the original architectural embellishment over the years, and only the shell of the structure and sanctuary space remains the same. The stage has been enlarged by this congregation, as well as new windows and interior corner pilasters and corner moldings.
The Vista Independent congregation has also updated the back addition and made necessary repairs from the damage that occurred when the building was vacant for many years.
The exterior facade remains relatively unchanged since the Clarenville Baptist congregation used this facility. The building is now covered in white vinyl siding, has a new portico over the front entranceway, and a new faux-stained glass window, replacing the original one.
Information from Vista Independent Church.
The Clarenville United Baptist Church congregation existed for about 15 to 20 years. At thispoint a New Life congregation rented the building for a few years; then the building sat vacant for a number of years after the dissolution of that congregation. After the disbanding of the congregation, ownership of the structure passed to what is today known as the CBAC, who sold the structure to the Vista Independent Baptist Church in 2003.
The Vista Independent Baptist Church started in 2001, where they rented a building in the town of Clarenville. When they purchased this structure it was in very rough shape; There had been a flood in the back hall addition thatwas devastating for the structure.
The original structure appears to have been built in the 1950s, based on the architectural style of the structure. The original footprint, when in its original location, and a few years after it was moved, was just the sanctuary. This building has a centrally placed doorway on the front facade, with a striking gothic revival style window set up high close to the peak of the roof. The building has a rather short saddleback steeple set above the doorway. On each side of the structure there are four, relatively new vinyl windows. Originally, the windows had four windows on each side with the window dividers making a ‘v’ shape. The Clarenville Baptist congregation constructed an addition on the back of the building, which includes a recreational space, kitchen and office for the minister.
The sanctuary space originally had 8 - 10 foot straight-backed pews, but these were taken out during extensive renovation efforts by the Vista Independent congregation. Little remains of the original architectural embellishment over the years, and only the shell of the structure and sanctuary space remains the same. The stage has been enlarged by this congregation, as well as new windows and interior corner pilasters and corner moldings.
The Vista Independent congregation has also updated the back addition and made necessary repairs from the damage that occurred when the building was vacant for many years.
The exterior facade remains relatively unchanged since the Clarenville Baptist congregation used this facility. The building is now covered in white vinyl siding, has a new portico over the front entranceway, and a new faux-stained glass window, replacing the original one.
Information from Vista Independent Church.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Vista Independent Baptist Church, formerly Clarenville United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed May 2, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/423.