Lower Derby United Baptist Church
Title
Lower Derby United Baptist Church
Creator
Avery Jackson
Source
Lower Derby United Baptist Church
Church Name
Lower Derby United Baptist Church
Church Association
Miramichi - North Shore Association
Province
New Brunswick
County
Northumberland County
Address
5332 Hwy 108 Lower Derby, New Brunswick
Status
Active
Date
Originally built 1884, current building built 1963
Historical Information
The history of the Lower Derby Baptist Church is an interesting one, dating back to the late 1800's.
Rev T M Munroe, of Newcastle, began holding services in the Derby school and local homes in 1879. The most active member of the church in the early years was Margaret Amos, who took an interest in the Sunday School. Aunt Margaret, as she was affectionately known, went visiting local homes collecting money for the construction of a church.
The Methodist minister, who frequently visited the community at that time, was Rev. Parker. However, when the church was built in 1884, it was dedicated to the Baptists. The Baptist minister in Newcastle was Rev I. E. Bill.
According to the Home Missions Board of the Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces, on December 9,1879 Isaac Robert Leighton and his wife, Paulina, deeded a piece of property on the South West Miramichi Post Road to the trustees of the Baptist Chapel of Newcastle and Derby.
On the same date, John Russell of Derby, a farmer, and his wife, Ellen, deeded an adjoining piece of land to the same trustees. In this deed it is mentioned that the trustees had already begun to erect their chapel when the document was signed.
In December 1884 the chapel having been completed, it was 'deemed advisable' to put the property into the hand of the Home Missions Board. The Home Missions Board then conveyed the land back to the church trustees about 1961.
Through the years, members of the Lower Derby congregation served as deacons and trustees through the Newcastle church. Among the early deacons were Malcolm Amos and James Lyon. Early trustees included Joseph Amos, Malcolm Amos, Thomas Newman and Thomas Vye. For many years, C. S. Amos served as the treasurer of the Lower Derby funds.
The church at Lower Derby continued as an out-station of the Newscastle church until 1959. Then, under the leadership of Rev Joseph L Knowles, the members organized their own church and employed the ministerial services of the Newcastle Church.
In 1961, a plan was initiated to put a basement under the church. However, after some deliberation, it was decided to erect a completely new building. The first sod was turned in July. By October, the superstructure was completed and the congregation began to hold services in the basement. The former structure was sold and demolished, but the seats were scraped and painted for use in the new place of worship. The present building (2023) was completed in May 1963. It was designed by Colson Sobey and Lorne Dawson, with Charles Plaxton as the contractor.
Many local people helped in various stages of construction. Throughout the years, the church has been renovated by various people giving their time and talents to enrich this facility.
New seats were put in place in 1995. New windows and wheelchair accessible ramps were installed in September 1998. The new siding was put on in the fall of 1999 by Delbert and Delores Mullin, with help from Leu Arsenault and Bob Taylor.
Little information or photographs could be found on this original building. However, given the size of the congregation and the size of the current (2023) church, this original facility was likely constructed in the Meeting House style. This style is characterised 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 building constructed in 1963, is typical for its time in terms of size and style. It is built in the mid-century-modern design. A common feature of churches built in this design is that the roof overhang on the front facade (gable end) increases as one gets closer to the peak of the roof. Another common feature that this church has, is a large stained glass window in the middle bay that travels from directly above the front doors to the peak of the church. The front facade is broken up into three bays, with the left, outer bay being indented, with the main door positioned on the side of the middle bay. The building is covered in white vinyl siding and black asphalt shingles, both materials not original to the building's construction. On each side of the building are three windows for the sanctuary and three basement windows. The basement contains a recreational space, storage, and a kitchen area.
Information provided by the church.
Rev T M Munroe, of Newcastle, began holding services in the Derby school and local homes in 1879. The most active member of the church in the early years was Margaret Amos, who took an interest in the Sunday School. Aunt Margaret, as she was affectionately known, went visiting local homes collecting money for the construction of a church.
The Methodist minister, who frequently visited the community at that time, was Rev. Parker. However, when the church was built in 1884, it was dedicated to the Baptists. The Baptist minister in Newcastle was Rev I. E. Bill.
According to the Home Missions Board of the Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces, on December 9,1879 Isaac Robert Leighton and his wife, Paulina, deeded a piece of property on the South West Miramichi Post Road to the trustees of the Baptist Chapel of Newcastle and Derby.
On the same date, John Russell of Derby, a farmer, and his wife, Ellen, deeded an adjoining piece of land to the same trustees. In this deed it is mentioned that the trustees had already begun to erect their chapel when the document was signed.
In December 1884 the chapel having been completed, it was 'deemed advisable' to put the property into the hand of the Home Missions Board. The Home Missions Board then conveyed the land back to the church trustees about 1961.
Through the years, members of the Lower Derby congregation served as deacons and trustees through the Newcastle church. Among the early deacons were Malcolm Amos and James Lyon. Early trustees included Joseph Amos, Malcolm Amos, Thomas Newman and Thomas Vye. For many years, C. S. Amos served as the treasurer of the Lower Derby funds.
The church at Lower Derby continued as an out-station of the Newscastle church until 1959. Then, under the leadership of Rev Joseph L Knowles, the members organized their own church and employed the ministerial services of the Newcastle Church.
In 1961, a plan was initiated to put a basement under the church. However, after some deliberation, it was decided to erect a completely new building. The first sod was turned in July. By October, the superstructure was completed and the congregation began to hold services in the basement. The former structure was sold and demolished, but the seats were scraped and painted for use in the new place of worship. The present building (2023) was completed in May 1963. It was designed by Colson Sobey and Lorne Dawson, with Charles Plaxton as the contractor.
Many local people helped in various stages of construction. Throughout the years, the church has been renovated by various people giving their time and talents to enrich this facility.
New seats were put in place in 1995. New windows and wheelchair accessible ramps were installed in September 1998. The new siding was put on in the fall of 1999 by Delbert and Delores Mullin, with help from Leu Arsenault and Bob Taylor.
Little information or photographs could be found on this original building. However, given the size of the congregation and the size of the current (2023) church, this original facility was likely constructed in the Meeting House style. This style is characterised 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 building constructed in 1963, is typical for its time in terms of size and style. It is built in the mid-century-modern design. A common feature of churches built in this design is that the roof overhang on the front facade (gable end) increases as one gets closer to the peak of the roof. Another common feature that this church has, is a large stained glass window in the middle bay that travels from directly above the front doors to the peak of the church. The front facade is broken up into three bays, with the left, outer bay being indented, with the main door positioned on the side of the middle bay. The building is covered in white vinyl siding and black asphalt shingles, both materials not original to the building's construction. On each side of the building are three windows for the sanctuary and three basement windows. The basement contains a recreational space, storage, and a kitchen area.
Information provided by the church.
Files
Collection
Citation
Avery Jackson, “Lower Derby United Baptist Church,” Atlantic Baptist Built Heritage Project , accessed April 29, 2024, https://atlanticbaptistheritage.omeka.net/items/show/425.