Newsletter Article -- January 2002

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The New Baptist Tabernacle, Ottawa, Now known as The First Baptist Church of Ottawa

From the Canadian Illustrated News, Sept. 9, 1876

The church stands on the corner of Maria (Ed. Note: now Laurier Ave West) and Elgin streets, a very pretty location, and is of the gothic style of architecture. The material used in construction is Gloucester limestone, and it is safe to say that it is as fine a piece of masonry as one could desire to see. The exterior dimensions are 100 x 60 feet, the walls being relieved with buttresses of cut stone. The main entrance is on Maria Street, and is ornamented with two handsome pillars of Nova Scotia marble. Immediately over the main entrance there is a beautiful stained glass window with three compartments, and sandstone turnings. A handsome tower rises heavenward a distance of 170 feet on the northeast corner, and on the northeast there is a neatly-finished turret which gives the main tower a more imposing appearance. A sandstone table appears in the front bearing the inscription in gilded letters, "Baptist Tabernacle, 1878".

In addition to the stained window in the front there are ten side windows. The staining has been done in excellent taste. The interior of the building is designed with exquisite taste. The seats are arranged in amphitheatre style, so that every one in the church faces the officiating clergyman. They are elevated on a scale of two feet-six inches. There are two entrances, one at the southeast corner on EIgin Street, and the other (the main entrance) on Maria Street. The baptistry and platform are located in the centre of the western wall and immediately above is the choir gallery. In rear of the baptistry, it is undertood that Mr. Howe, one of the deacons, will produce an imitation of the River Jordan, which will certainly have a pretty effect when viewed from the body of the church. The ornamental frame-work has been designed in good taste, and is painted in imitation marble. Two doors, one on either side, Iead to the font and conceal the candidates from the congregation until the immersion ceremony is performed.

Canadian Illustrated News was published in Montreal, Quebec by George E. Desbarats, Canada's first official Queen's Printer, from 1869 to 1883. The National Library's Canadian Illustrated News web site offers a searchable selection of almost 4000 images of people, places and events across Canada and around the world taken from this popular 19th-century magazine.

There are two dressing rooms in the rear. The ceiling is arched and relieved by three centre pieces, from which are suspended elegantly polished brass gasaliers, each furnishing twenty-two jets. The ceIling is tinted a light blue, and the walls a Iight plnk. the aisles are carpeted, and the seats, in the course of time, will be beautifully upholstered. The gable wall looks somewhat bare, and it is proposed to introduce appropriate frescoing by way of relief. The wall will also be bordered with a Scriptural, which will vastly improve the whole effect. We omitted to mention that there was a smalI gallery over the main entrance. For months past the congregation has been worshipping in the basement, which is a commodious one. There is a lecture-room 65 x 49 feet and also a vestry and kitchen, It is proposed also to set apart a room for a library. The heating apparatus is located in the basement. The whole buildlng, in fact, is a credit to the architect, Mr. Mather, the pastor and the congregation, who exerted themselves so energetically towards its successful erection. When completed, it will cost $20,000. The opening services were held on Sunday, September 29th. the Rev. John H. Cast1e, D.D. of Toronto, preached morning and evening, and the Rev. W. J. D. Stewart, D.D., of Hamilton, in the afternoon, before large congregations. A very successful opening social was held on the Monday evening following, presided over by the Hon. A. Mackenzie, who also laid the corner stone last fall. Services were continued on Sunday, Oct. 6th, the Rev. A. H. Monroe and the Rev. J. Gordon, B.D., preaching.

The Present State of the Church

The church building has weathered well over its 123 years, but time and the elements have taken their toll. Surveys have identified a number of repairs and restorations that must be undertaken to preserve the buildings for future generations of Ottawans.

The pointing is in poor condition and in some places there is danger that the stones may fall off the walls. Repairs to the exterior walls have begun but have yet to be finished. The church windows, which are unique, are in danger of major damage unless restoration work is undertaken. The roof has been patched many times over the past 40 years and now needs replacement. The basement floor was installed in the early 1940’s and is increasingly difficult to maintain. The church interior was last painted in 1966. When built, no consideration was given to the need for barrier free access Improved access to the church and facilities is needed to better serve the needs of the elderly, those with impaired mobility, as well as those with small children and to make the building more suitable for community use.

Planned improvements to access are: A lift is to be installed by the west side entrance to allow all levels of the sanctuary and side building to be accessed. The stairs to the choristry is to be widened and a railing installed. New handicapped-accessible washrooms will be built inthe basement. Renovations are to be made to the kitchen.

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