United Baptist Church Sault Ste Marie ON

The United Baptist Church was formed through the amalgamation of Wellington Street Baptist Church and Coulson Avenue Baptist Church in 1966 (refer to history page). We are a Baptist Church in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada, associated with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ), the Northern Association of Baptist Churches and autonomous by nature.

The church is a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ. The building is not the church but a place for the believers to congregate, worship, pray and praise. Our church exists wherever our individuals and church family are to share the love of Jesus Christ and spread the good news that He lives.

 

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Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec  

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In 1962, the congregations of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church and Wellington Street Baptist Church formed a Strategic Survey Committee, to consider the future of the two (2) Convention Baptist Churches (CBOQ today) in Sault Ste. Marie. It was becoming apparent that the two (2) churches were approaching a crisis in their stewardship. Wellington Street Baptist Church was faced with a declining membership while Coulson Avenue Baptist Church with an expanding membership was cramped by limited facilities. Any action taken by one of the churches would have a direct effect on the other, and it became apparent that all actions should be coordinated with a long-range plan to assure maximum stewardship in the community. A joint Strategic Survey Committee was struck.

At a meeting of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church on June 10, 1962 with Harold Johns as chairperson, the Church was asked by the Deacons Board to appoint three men to a joint committee to make a survey to ascertain an area for Church Extension. The three were Mr. John Rives, Mr. Reg Beilhartz and Mr. Doug Murray.

At a meeting of Wellington Street Baptist Church following the Sunday morning service for the purpose of forming a joint Strategic Survey Committee which will attempt to determine future population trends of Sault Ste. Marie, Mr. D. Currie, Mr. G. Featherstone, and Mr. G. Gernon were appointed.

This culminated a report of the Strategic Survey Committee to a joint meeting of the two (2) churches on February 26, 1963.

The Strategic Survey Committee determined that neither Wellington Street Baptist Church or Coulson Avenue Baptist Church could afford to move independently of the other without serious complications and perhaps more harm that good being done to future Baptist development in the city. It was discussed that the most effective answer to the problem and the first step towards reaching their ultimate goal of an expanded witness in Sault Ste. Marie would be to form a strong “home base”. This could be accomplished by merging the two congregations into one which could be situated in the most strategic central area of the city – the north hill. The report mentioned above, suggested that after prayerful consideration each church set a motion in place and vote on a potential merger. Three committees would be established if the congregations of both churches voted in favour of moving forward with the recommendations of the report – a steering committee, a building committee and a finance committee. It is interesting to note that the steering committee would be charged with recommending a new name for the united congregation.

The individual churches held separate meetings in May 1965 and cast ballots on the motion to merge Coulson Avenue Baptist Church and Wellington Street Baptist Church. Both churches reached a positive result in the voting and were officially amalgamated in September 1965. The name of the new church would be The United Baptist Church.

Property was purchased on Malabar Drive adjoining a lot owned by Coulson Avenue Baptist Church, from Mr. Fred Davey. The building was designed by R.V.B. (Bill) Burgoyne of J.B. Parkin Associates, Architects. Tenders for construction of the new church building closed on June 15, 1967. George Stone & Sons Ltd. was the lowest of three bidders at $194,336.00. Post-tender changes by the UBC Plans and Construction Committee reduced the cost to $172,000.00. At a meeting on July 9, 1967 the congregation approved the contract signing. A ground breaking ceremony was held on Sunday morning, August 6, 1967.

The official opening of the new building was held on April 7, 1968. At the invitation of Reverend Elmer and Peggy Anderson, The Right Honourable and Mrs. John G. Diefenbaker were in attendance. Mrs. Diefenbaker cut the white ribbon in the centre aisle at 11 a.m. to open the church building. Former Prime Minister Diefenbaker read the Palm Sunday scripture. A capacity crowd of 400 were in attendance. The Andersons have known the Diefenbakers since they were members of the First Baptist Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

A service for the dedication of the building was held on Sunday, April 28, 1968 at 11 a.m., with guest preacher Rev. R. F. Bullen, B.A., B.D., D.D., General Secretary Treasurer of the Baptist Federation of Canada. The choir sang “God’s House”. At the 7:30 p.m. service on the same date, the furnishings were dedicated. Two days later on Tuesday, April 30, 1968 at 7:30 p.m. the church held an Open House and Community Night. The DENJANIANS sang at this event. Then two days later again, on Thursday, May 2, 1968 at 7:30 p.m. was the Baptist Association Night with Rev. Chester Laymon from First Baptist Church Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan bringing the message.

September 16, 1990 marked a sod turning ceremony for a 3,000 square foot addition to the church. The addition provides for a nursery, primary and kindergarten classrooms on the lower level, conference, meeting room and offices on the main level and teaching space in the upper half-storey. The extension will be named in honour of former minister Reverend Malcom (Mac) F. Morden. The sod turning included Reverend Jeff Hoag, pastor at The United Baptist Church; Reverend Paul Burns, Area Minister for the Northern Association of Baptist Churches; Norris Dickson, Life Deacon; Mrs. Lillian Morden, wife of the late Reverend Malcom (Mac) F. Morden; and Wayne Morden, son of the late Reverend Malcom (Mac) F. Morden; and Mrs. Stephania Hattie. The addition is designed by MGP Architects of Sault Ste. Marie and will be constructed by George Stone & Sons.

The Ministers-Pastors of The United Baptist Church are:

Rev E.G. Anderson (last minister of Wellington Street Baptist Church and first of The United Baptist Church) Rev J. R Simpson (last minister of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church and associate minister of The United Baptist Church) Rev M. F. Morden Rev R. Wilkinson Rev J. P. Hoag Rev C. F. Brown (assistant pastor) Rev Phil Miller (interim pastor) Pastor Gabriel Araba (interim pastor) Pastor Gabriel Araba

Coulson Avenue Baptist Church

At the annual meeting of the First Baptist Church of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario held on January 26th, 1944, the church voted to withdraw from the Convention of Ontario and Quebec. Approximately fifty to sixty members withdrew from the fellowship of this church. Of this number several united with other churches; the remaining number organized into what they called a Baptist Association with Mr. Herbert Beilhartz as chairman and Mr. W.G. Ruttan. secretary. Weekly meetings were held later, every other week, in the homes of the members.

The group were very fortunate in the speakers who came to address them:

Rev. Dr. Raymond Brown from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Rev. Mr. Montgomery of the same church, Chaplain from the Army Post of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Rev. F. Bullen and Rev. Ralph Wilson, both of Wellington Street Baptist Church, Rev. Malcolm Barr of Blind River.

On September 11, 1945, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Graham, 45 Grace Street, at 8:00 in the evening, thirty-five members met with: Dr. H.H. Bingham, General Secretary of the Convention of Ontario and Quebec; Dr. C.H. Schutt of the Home Mission Board; Rev. A.C. Armstrong, Moderator of the Northern Association. Mr. H. Beilhartz then explained the object of the gathering; that those present desired to be organized into a church body. He then introduced Dr. Bingham who read the following resolution:

“that we a group of baptized believers of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario assembled at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Graham. This Tuesday evening of September 11th, 1945, most of whom have been constrained to withdraw from the First Baptist Church of this city on account of their severance from Convention of Ontario and Quebec.”

His resolution was accepted unanimously by those present.

The following members were enrolled:

Beilhartz, H. Beilhartz, L. Charters, Mrs. J. Derrer, Mrs. Julia Graham, H.B. Graham, Mrs. H.B. Johns, Allan Johns, Edgar Johns, Grace Johns, Gwladys Johns, Harold Johns, Kenneth Johns, Mrs. T Johns, Thos. Jones, Mrs. C McLeod, Nellie McPhail, Christina Millar, W.K. Millar, Mrs. W.K. Paul, W.C. Paul, Mrs. W.C. Reilly, Ross Scott, F.E. Scott, Mrs. F.E. Sims, Mrs. G. Tolley, Mrs. G.H. Vance, N. Watt, Mrs. G. White, Wm. White, Roy White, Mrs. Roy

Later, these were added: Mrs. Inglebourg Hart, N. Hunt, Mrs. N. Hunt, W.G. Ruttan, Mrs. W.G. Ruttan, Miss Madeline Tolley

The church was received into the fellowship of the Northern Association (of Baptist Churches) at their annual meeting, September 19th, 1945, at North Bay.

The next move was the securing of a lot at the west corner of Coulson Avenue and Queen Street East. At a meeting on October 9th it was agreed to call the church, The Coulson Ave. Baptist Church of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. On November 4th, 1945, a Sunday School was opened in the Women’s Room of the Exhibition grounds. The furnishings were: a kitchen table for a desk, an oil drum fitted with a door and pipes, the stove, the wood from our basements, an organ that was donated and six chairs. They opened with seven present.

In December 1945, the church unanimously agreed to call Rev. A.C. Bingham of Vancouver. The call was accepted and Mr. Bingham held his first service with the congregation on April 7, 1946.

Church plans were drawn up by Mr. F. Bruce Brown of Toronto. The contract was let to Mr. Austin King of Sault Ste. Marie.

On November 28th, 1946, the corner stone of the new building at the Northwest corner of Queen Street East and Coulson Avenue was laid. The church was opened on September 7, 1947 by Dr. H.H. Bingham, who held special services for three days following. Then Dr Hodgson held service for the latter part of the week and on Sunday. Prior to the opening of the new church building, services were held in the Sunday School in the mornings. During the winter months, the evening services were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. Giffin.

One of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church’s members answered the call to the Mission Field. Miss Ruth Tolley served in Bolivia.

In 1955, the church broadcast a service once a month over C.K.C.Y. radio station

The Ministers-Pastors of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church are:

Rev. A.C. Bingham Rev. R.H. Stovell Rev. Hilary Jones (Interim pastor) Rev. Norman Brooks Rev. Malcolm Morden Rev. Jas. Simpson

Resource and direct quotes from A History of Coulson Avenue Baptist Church Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – From Alpha to Omega – Compiled and Researched by Isobel Murray