First Baptist Church (Toronto)

First Baptist Church was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1826. It is both the first Baptist congregation in Toronto and the oldest black institution in the city.[1][2][3] Formed by fugitive enslaved persons, the church played a large role in the abolitionist movement, including hosting lectures against slavery and offering aid to fugitives.[1]

First Baptist Church
Queen and Victoria location (1841 to 1905)
Formation1826
FounderElder Washington Christian
TypeReligious organization
Location
  • Toronto
Websitehttps://www.fbctoronto.ca/
Formerly called
First Coloured Calvinistic Baptist Church, Queen Street Coloured Baptist Church, University Avenue Baptist Church

In its long history, the church's location has changed multiple times. Today it holds service at 101 Huron Street.[2]

History

The church was formed by 12 fugitive enslaved persons in 1826, under the leadership of Elder Washington Christian.[2] Reverend Christian was a former enslaved individual who established multiple Baptist churches in Canada.[1]

It had not been possible to attend existing white churches because the fugitives were required to have a letter from their old church and to pay their old slave masters for the money lost due to their escape.[2]

At first, services were held outside or in the homes of members of the church.[4] Reverend Christian rented a masonic temple in 1827. Although some white congregants attended the black church's services, a church for white members was established in 1829.[5]

There were reportedly 66 members of the First Baptist Church in 1837.[6] In the same year, a visitor noted that half the congregation was white, half was black.[7]

In 1841, the congregation moved to its first permanent location after being gifted land by the family of Squires McCutcheon to build a church at Queen Street and Victoria Street.[8] Soon after, white members left for a different Baptist church.[7] In 1843, Elder Washington Christian went to Jamaica for two years, returning with enough raised funds to pay off the new church's mortgage.[8] The location was known as "First Coloured Calvinistic Baptist Church" or "Queen Street Coloured Baptist Church."[7]

In 1905, it relocated to University Avenue and Edward Street, at which point it was known as "University Avenue Baptist Church".[7]

University Avenue and Edward location (1905 to 1955). Shown here shortly before demolition.

The name "First Baptist Church" began being used in the 1940s.[7]

The church relocated to its current address at Huron Street and D'Arcy Street in 1955. The previous property was sold to Shell Oil Company and the building was demolished.[7]

In 2000, baptized membership was approximately 140 and about the same number attended Sunday church services.[7]

Locations
Year Location
1826 No building (service was outside or in congregants' homes).[4]
1827 Rented St. George's Masonic Lodge.[5]
1834 Rented building on March Street (now Lombard Street).[7]
1841 Church building at Queen Street and Victoria Street.[4]
1905 Church building at University Avenue and Edward Street.[4]
1955 Church building at Huron Street and D'Arcy Street (its current location).[4]
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References
  1. Shadd, Adrienne; Cooper, Afua; Smardz Frost, Karolyn (2002). The Underground Railroad: Next Stop, Toronto!. Toronto: Natural Heritage Books. pp. 27–30. ISBN 1-896219-86-1.
  2. "FBC Toronto – Who Are We". FBC Toronto. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  3. Gooden, Amoaba (November 9, 2007). "Community Organizing by African Caribbean People in Toronto, Ontario". Journal of Black Studies. 38 (3): 415. doi:10.1177/0021934707309134.
  4. Torontoist (2017-02-02). "Now and Then: First Baptist Church". Torontoist. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  5. "Timeline · Freedom City · TPL Virtual Exhibits". omeka.tplcs.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  6. "Biography – Christian, Washington – Volume VII (1836-1850) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  7. Scott, Jamie S. (2012-03-15). The Religions of Canadians. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-0518-3.
  8. Hill, Daniel G. (1981). The Freedom-Seekers: Black in Early Canada. Agincourt: The Book Society of Canada Limited.

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