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The History of Ontario Street Baptist Church

230 Ontario Street, Stratford,
Ontario, Canada

Heritage Sunday October 4th, 1998

The Ontario Street Baptist Church, a substantial red brick structure at the corner of Ontario and Nile streets, was built in 1889 at a cost of $12,000.00.

This, however, was not the first meeting place of Stratford's Baptists. In 1857, a newcomer from Brantford, named Thomas Birch gathered about himself a dozen others of the faith. For some months they held prayer meetings in the village's log cabins.

On April 3rd, 1869, the group formally organized themselves into The Regular Baptist Church, Stratford, with 16 charter members. Thomas Birch and George Larkworthy were its first deacons. One of the earliest members of the congregation was a woman who had formerly been a slave in Kentuky.

For a time, meetings were held in the town hall, with students from the Baptist Literary Institute of Woodstock conducting services. Plans for a church building, at the corner on Front and Albert Streets were approved on January 26th, 1860. At that time also a resolution was passed urging each member to set at least one cent a week for missionary purposes.

 

In May 1861, when the frame building opened for worship, it had 41 members. Rev. R. McClelland was the first minister. Rev. C.J. Shrimpton, whose annual stripend was $400.00, followed him in 1862. During 1862, the congregation agreed to set aside six and one-half cents a week, to pay off the church debt.

The decision was made in 1866, to tear down the church and rebuild it on the former Ontario Street site of Stillman's creamery, which had been purchased for $400.00. When construction began in 1868, - the church refused to supply whiskey for the workmen, as was the custom of the day, the men refused to work. The Baptists started the job themselves. Deacon Birch described proceedings as follows;

"We lifted until we saw stars, but the frame did not go up. We felt something slipping and knew - if it fell - someone would get hurt. Suddenly there was a roar by an unfamiliar voice and the frame went up as if by magic". A group of Perth County farmers had come to the rescue.

The first pastor (in the new church) was Rev. John McLaurin, who departed the following year to become a missionary in India.

 

   
   
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