| Architect: D.S. McIlroy of Calgary (also
designed the Oddfellows Temple)
Contractor: Richard Brothers Company
Limited
Original
cost: $152,000
for church and manse.
Construction materials: Red brick with Calgary
sandstone trim.
Architectural style:
Gothic Revival.
Exquisite tracery on windows. "The steeple is 125
feet high, covered with copper shingles surmounted with
wrought iron work."
Original interior
details:
Sunday school hall with
13 classrooms, ladies parlour, pastor's study, meeting
rooms, Sunday school library, dining hall (to accommodate
500), kitchen, store rooms and caretaker's quarters.
Seating space for 1,360. Pews arranged on the raked floor
so there was no central aisle. Barrel vault ceiling with
a grid pattern of oak moulding. The altar, organ loft and
choir located in a semi-circular depression behind an
artificial stone arch. Extensive use of stained glass.
Wood used throughout for wainscotting, door and window
trim, pews, floors, balcony and altar. "The whole of
the interior is finished in oak and from the ceiling hang
magnificent brass electroliers, the central chandelier
having seventy five lights. The Baptistry will be lined
with white marble, and stands in the centre of oak
panelling which will enclose a fine three manuel organ
made by Cassavant Freres, of Quebec, and will cost
$8,000."
Historical highlights:
- First Baptist was
organized May 15, 1888 when seven of the sixteen
Baptists in Calgary met at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Edward King.
- The Fourth Street
church was the third built by the congregation
and the second designed by architect D.S.
McIlroy.
- In May 1911 six
lots at the corner of 13th Avenue and 4th St.
S.W. were purchased for $25,000. When church
officials handed the amount due to the acting
solicitor, R.B. Bennett in cash he was so
surprised that he contributed $1,000 toward the
building fund.
- Money for
construction was raised by many prominent
citizens including former mayor and alderman,
Thomas Underwood.
- Cornerstone laid
July 12, 1911 by Dr. John Clifford of England one
of the world's leading Baptists.
- Official dedication
took place Sunday May 12, 1912. Membership at the
time was 450 which included 90 non-residents.
- In 1951 a two
storey brick youth centre was added to the south
west corner of the church. The $48,000 addition
containing a gymnasium, nursery, and Sunday
School classrooms was paid off in two years.
- 1957 - a new
parsonage was purchased in northwest Calgary and
the original manse was converted into an
administrative centre.
- 1958 - the
congregation purchased church building and
property (south of First Baptist on Fourteenth
Avenue and Fourth Street S.W.) from the Seventh
Day Adventists for $325,000.
- 1961-1962 - a
$605,000 Christian Education Centre was
constructed south of the church and joined to the
main building by an underground tunnel.
Officially opened April 15, 1962. Included church
offices, classrooms, lounges, kitchen, fellowship
hall and small chapel.
- 1966 - extensive
interior renovations. Removal of upper balcony
(to conform to city fire regulations),
alterations to central altar and pulpit and the
53 year old organ was reconstructed.
- In 1988 First
Baptist celebrated one hundred years of
continuous ministry and service in Calgary.
- For more
information about the history read The One
Hundredth Milestone: The Story of First Baptist
Church 1888 - 1988 published by First
Baptist's Centennial Book Committee.
|
