The Baptist Congregation

By Stanley Grenz

Instructor: Dr. Leo Gallant

Student: Gordon Fevens

Assignment 2: Brief history of the Bridgewater Baptist Church:

Assignment to be completed by March 24, 2012

Brief History of the Bridgewater Baptist Church

In 1826, over wagon roads, in places almost non-existent, five ladies walked the distance from the district of Lunenburg to Wolfville, to attend a Baptist Association meeting, there to add their voice to the growing cry of Baptists for a better educational system; the seed from which would come Horton’s Academy and eventually Acadia University.

On Saturday, August 5, 1837, a number of Baptists met in the Bridgewater community, and agreed to organize into a church. The next ten years showed a decline instead of an increase and from 1843 – 1847 there are no records of a Baptist church in Bridgewater.

The history of the Bridgewater Baptist Church continued on May 8, 1848 when the “Baptist Church of Bridgewater” was organized with 14 members. The congregation grew in size and the house became too small, so the school house was used. Feeling a need for a pastor, they asked the Greenfield pastor, Rev. James Stubbart, to help out by giving them one Sunday a month. This he agreed to do. The minutes from May 8, 1848, signed by Obadiah Parker, described the difficulties among the earlier folk, lamenting the backsliding, commending the faithful, and his final words on that day read “may we never turn from the Lord again”. It was in this effort that a church was organized by the 14 members.

With the church firmly established, the Rev. James Stubbart of Greenfield and the Rev. Maynard Parker shared the pastoral responsibilities in its infancy. With the congregation growing, the desire for a church building of their own was needed. A building called the Union House was for sale by auction and the “Baptists” purchased the building for around $200.00. The building was dubbed “The Lord’s Barn” as it remained unfinished where sheep and cattle found shelter. The deed was registered in April 1949. Through sacrifice and hard work, it led to the official opening of the “Baptist Meeting House” in 1854.

The following gives us a glimpse into the past of how the church and worship service was in 1854;

“The exterior view of the renovated Lord’s Barn, was one of clean, dignified, “churchly” looking edifice. To step inside , on an early Sunday morning, the scene would be of reverent , but eager, worship. Parishioners in their best bib and tucker would arrive at the entrance, either by wagon, behind well-brushed horses, or on foot; in shining high-buttoned boots, cut-away coats, crinolined gowns, neatly-bowed bonnets and probably high silk hats. They would tread softly, enter their own particular straight-backed pew, closing and latching the door at the isle. Above their heads, in the main part of the church, were the galleries where the choir assembled.

Before them half-way between floor and gallery, rose the high boxed-in pulpit, furnished with a brocaded couch and a latching door. Near the front of the church, easily accessible, were the red denim bags on long handles to be passed, by the ushers, the full length of the pew, for the offerings.

As the hour of worship approached, the whispering ceased, heads snapped erect and the pastor ascended the winding stair into the pulpit, carefully closing the door, as if “against the world”.

Prayers were said, old familiar hymns sung, the scripture read and the sermon exhorted the faithful, commended the new facilities to the Glory of God, and carefully recognized the blessings of the week gone by. “The Lord’s Barn” was worship”. (P28 “Fifteen Decades and Counting” by Joyce Fraser.)

From 1854 until 1860 changes were taking place, four men had served as pastors; the Rev. James Stubbart, Rev. Maynard Parker, Rev. James Tabor and I.J. Skinner. They were paid 50 pounds for half-time service.

In spite of growing pains, the church was thriving; a Sunday school of 25 was furcating, delegates were attending associations, collections were exceeding expenses and church membership had risen to 118. The first quarterly meeting, recorded on July 25, 1861, reported “harmony prevailing”.

In 1889, with the sale of the old parsonage building, a new parsonage was built for $1904.70 adjacent to the church. A mere $169.70 remained owing on completion.

Between the years 1913 – 1915, no recorded minutes appeared in the church books. When records were again written up in the church books, it was with reference to “letters from the boys at the front, thanking those who sent letters, eats and other things”. Church programs began again and in 1915 Rev. Frank Eaton became the pastor of the church and moved into the new parsonage. In 1919 he placed before the congregation a proposal for a new church building. On January 16, 1920, the church voted that the building committee proceed with the erection of the new church under the slogan “Let us rise up and build”. (Neh 2:18) In the spring of the first year, the first sod was turned.

On Sunday, January 30, 1921, the Bridgewater Baptist Church was formally opened. The Pastor’s report in 1922 stated “Since the dedication of the new church, the audience has increased by approximately 30% over the old church attendance”. During the 20’s, the depression forced the church to mortgage the church property in 1928 for $10,000 to meet outstanding liabilities.

By 1930 the debt on the new church, which had cost $45,000.00 to build, had been reduced to $10,000. After sixteen and one-half years as pastor, Rev. Frank Eaton preached his farewell sermon on October 25, 1931, and on October 8, 1943, there was a burning of the mortgage ceremony.

At the Hundredth Anniversary celebration, Sunday January 26th, 1947, Dr. Simeon Spidle of Acadia University spoke. He had been the guest speaker at the opening of the new church in 1921.

The Endowment Fund was established in 1948 and numerous donations to this Fund have been made over the years, including many bequests. Also in 1948 the church’s first “Church Constitution” was adapted. An orchestra was founded in 1950 and provided music for the regular Sunday evening hymn sings. In 1954 the “Daily Vocational Bible School” began. Ten years later, in 1964, the “Long Lake Baptist Camp” was purchased by the “Lunenburg-Queens United Baptist Association” for a Baptist youth camp. Our church, over the years, has had a strong relationship with the camp in giving, staffing and helping in many areas of this important ministry.

The records of our church tell of times of intense discussion and disagreements among members, from early days up to the present. Financial problems sometimes played a part in these. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the church went through some difficult times. In May, 1987, the Board of Management was formed to deal with the business of the church between general Business Meetings, to act as a Constitutional Committee and to coordinate the work of the various Boards and Committees of the church.

The Bridgewater Baptist church was approved to have extensive renovations done to the main floor and the basement starting in 1972 and finished in 1973, thanks to a bequest from the Dr. Frank Eaton estate. Also in 1972 major revisions were made to the Church Constitution and in 1973 the first woman Deacon was elected. Years later in 1991, a church band was formed under the direction of Donald Gow, and continued to add to the music program of the church until 2006.

During 1992 a lift (2 people) was installed by Otis Company and a basement level entrance was constructed for the elderly to use the lift from the street level parking lot. The “Church Annex” was purchased and renovated in 1997. This building is located next to the Parsonage.

For years there has been a good working relationship among the clergy of the town. In1979 the Inter-Church Council was formed with both clergy and laity from many churches in our town as well as our own church. This organization has started several cooperative efforts, such as the Bridgewater Inter-Church Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

In 1998, A “Celebration of 150 years of Continuous Ministry” was held.

May 31, 2003, Spring Business Meeting it was reported by Carl Selig that if the Scout Committee can’t get any leaders by fall, it will be dismembered. This ended a long tradition of Scouting associated with the Baptist Church. In 1957, twelve boys were organized into the first Baptist Club Pack and led by Glendon Langille and Alex MacBain. Also in 2003 the purchase of the Farmers Dairy property was complete. This lot was next to the Annex lot and the church property is now 2.3 acres including the church, parsonage and annex.

In 2002 the “Long Range and Property Committee was formed for the purpose of evaluating the future physical needs of the church. It first proposed that an extension be built on the existing church building but that cost was around 4 million and the old church was showing its age.

November 15, 2005, the Church Building Committee was formed to review and analyze the information gathered by the L.R P.C. The Capital Campaign Committee was established in 2005 with a mandate to financial feasibility of the proposed building program of the church.

March 20, 2006, a new mandate was given to the Building Committee; that the committee negotiate with the Bridgewater Development Association to purchase property in the developing area called Glen Allan Dr. in conjunction with the Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens Homes Inc. This was the result after a special meeting with Rev, Norman Hovland about purchasing the property jointly with the church located in the front near Glen Allan and the Senior Home in the back of the property. The property was divided later. A common drive way would be shared.

October 2, 2006, approval was given at a special meeting to purchase approximately 5 acres of land bordering Glen Allan. Vote was Yes 110 and No 6.

July 19, 2007, the Glen Allan property was purchased by the Trustees on behalf of the church. The Building Committee mandate was revised to “begin towards the building of a new church facility.”

March 25, 2008, a motion passed to select B.D. Stevens as the churches design/builder of the new church. On April 23, 2008, the floor plans for the new church were presented at a Special Business Meeting. It was accepted by the members; 0ut of 84, 82 in favor and 2 against.

July 13, 2011, a Special Business Meeting was called and B.D. Stevens presented their latest updated drawings and revised cost. The total cost was $4,100,000. Phase 1 was presented by Thane Stevens to begin this year (Clearing the trees, leveling the property, drainage, gravel and foundation). This will cost around $600,000.

To date this project is nearly finished thanks to the warm winter we have experienced.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Fifteen Decades and Counting, by Joyce Fraser, 1983

Celebrating 150 Years of Ministry by Shirley McNally

Annual Reports of the Bridgewater Baptist Church

Minutes and Reports from the Church Building Committee