First Baptist Church marks 125 years

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This article was published 15/11/2010 (5726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sixteen years after they first began to worship inside its walls, members of Brandon’s First Baptist Church were finally able to place a big red bow on the final phase of construction of their home at 3881 Park Ave. Sunday morning — and then promptly snip that red ribbon in celebration.

Though the church has had a solid presence in the west end since 1994, construction of the church’s family centre has only recently been completed, officially bringing an end to the long road of change that its members have walked since the closure of its former home on the corner of 11th Street and Lorne Avenue in 1992.

On Sunday, the centre was dedicated in conjunction with the church’s 125th anniversary.

"It was the thought process of the committees at that time (of closure in 1992) that it would revitalize the church itself by moving it to this location, which it has," says the construction project manager and 30-year congregation member, Albert Klippenstine. "It was a painful break in a lot of ways, particularly for the some of the older members, but it’s become a good thing."

The newly constructed family centre, complete with classrooms, a large activity room and a separate space for youth groups in the basement, provides a contemporary setting for people of all ages to explore their faith, says Pastor Randy Stanton.

"We’ve always had a strong family commitment, helping people to share their faith with their children in a generation that really doesn’t do that very well," he said. "We’ve been focusing in on that."

Rob Thiessen has been bringing his young family to Sunday services at First Baptist for two years and particularly enjoys the church’s emphasis on integrating children into the church.

"It was so geared towards the kids and just put their priorities on the kids programming and building them and integrating them into the service," Thiessen said. "I think it’s awesome how we’ve got right from the youngest to the oldest and we’ve got just a great spread of age groups. Our church has, I feel, done a great job of appealing to all the age groups and welcoming all the age groups as well."

Frances Milne, who will be 94 years old next week, has been worshipping at First Baptist Church since she was 18 years old.

She says it doesn’t matter that she’s now worshipping in a new, modern building, as long as people are gathered in prayer.

"This is the Lord’s house," she said. "Where two or three are gathered together, he’s in the midst."

Brandon’s First Baptist Church’s humble beginnings date back to 1885, when the first church was built at the corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. That building was later moved to Russell Street, where it is now known as St. Andrew’s Presbyterian.

In 1904, the First Baptist Church on the corner of 11th Street and Lorne Avenue was opened and remained in use until 1992. After spending two years in a temporary space at Waverly Park School, the congregation began worshipping in its current space on Park Avenue in 1994.

 

Sidebar: No plans for historic church building

Nearly 20 years after its congregation closed its doors, Brandon’s iconic First Baptist Church building on the corner of 11th Street and Lorne Avenue remains vacant.

The 106-year-old building has been co-owned by Randy Kurtenbach and Kelly Doherty for the past 15 years. Kurtenbach told the Sun on Sunday they currently have "no plans for it" and have been trying to sell it for some time.

While the building’s attached hall currently houses the regular services of the local Ebenezer Christian Church, the First and Baptist sanctuary and its associated rooms sit darkened and cold, Kurtenbach said.

In the years since the pair purchased the property, the historic church — with its tall brick towers and arched doorways — has played host to a number of community renters, including the Christian-themed coffee house, Solid Grounds, and Brandon’s own Lady of the Lake gift shop.

It also was the dubious home of a short-lived illegal booze-can, which was busted in the fall of 2004 by the Brandon Police Service. Five people were charged in connection with its operation, including one man who had been renting the building from Kurtenbach and Doherty under the guise of starting a business there.

 

» Brandon Sun