The History of First Baptist Since 1886

Our story begins with Reverend Robert Lennie, a Baptist missionary from New Westminster, who saw the need to establish a Baptist witness in Granville, as Vancouver was then known, traveling by horse and buggy to meet with a small group of Baptists.

 

On Sunday, June 6, 1886, a few months after Vancouver was incorporated as a city of almost 5,000, growing numbers led the group of believers to meet to organize a Sunday school with 25 to 30 children. Mr. J. H. Carlisle, Vancouver's First Fire Chief, was appointed Superintendent. The Sunday school met in a hall at the rear of Blair's Saloon on Abbott Street behind the former Woodward's store.

 

The following Sunday, June 13, 1886, Blair's Hall and the city were destroyed by fire.

 

Rev. Lennie had obtained two building lots from the Canadian Pacific Railway (on what is now 432 Main Street) with a view to the Sunday school having its own place of worship. A small wooden building, approximately 24 by 35 feet and costing about $700, was built.

 

March 16, 1887: Rev. Lennie called a meeting in the Sullivan Hall (63 Cordova Street) to move that the group unite to form First Baptist Church. Rev J.W. Daniels from Seattle, Washington, was the first pastor. The first person to be baptized was Robert Palmer. Because the church had no baptistery, he was baptized in False Creek.

 

When the congregation outgrew the little building on Main Street, a new church, seating about 800, was built at Hamilton and Dunsmuir Streets, and was dedicated on Sunday, September 15, 1887.

 

It was decided to seek a location farther west, and in 1904 a property was purchased, for $4,000, at Burrard and Nelson Streets. John Morton, a Baptist lay person (and the first white settler in Vancouver), donated the first $1,000.

 

On April 2, 1910, John Morton laid the cornerstone for the new church, and on June 9, 1911, the new building was dedicated.

 

During 1931 the sanctuary was destroyed by fire, but was later rebuilt.

 

In 1989 Kitsilano Christian Community was established, the seventh Baptist church resulting from First Baptist's outreach in a growing Vancouver.

 

The challenge of supporting the Gospel internationally has long been one of First Baptist's priorities. In 1924 First Baptist sent Howard and Mary Plummer to Bolivia, the first of many missionaries it has supported. Members from young people to seniors have answered the call to serve on short-term projects in places like Russia, Croatia, a New Jersey ghetto, and Africa.

 

First Baptist has been blessed with outstanding leadership. Dr. Bruce Milne, until January 2001 our Senior Minister, came in 1983 from Spurgeon's College in London, England, the college from which Rev. Lennie, First Baptist's original pastor, had graduated many years before!

 

Since the departure of Bruce Milne for reasons of health, First Baptist Vancouver has continued to grow and develop under the leadership of the Rev Dr Greg Anderson (Executive Minister until 2005), initially with Dr John Zimmerman (as Interim Senior Advisor). In July 2004 Dr Tom Cowan joined First Baptist as Senior Minister.

 

As a congregation having a rich historical background, we ever mindful of considering carefully our special privilege of continuing the heritage and influence of God's people in Vancouver in this new Millennium.

 

(Based on the "History of First Baptist Church", by Vic Stevenson, our church archivist)