First Baptist Church (Toronto)

First Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation in Toronto, Ontario, affiliated with Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. It is both the first Baptist congregation in Toronto and the oldest black institution in the city.^[1][2][3] Formed by fugitive enslaved persons, the church played a large role in the abolitionist movement, including hosting lectures against slavery and offering aid to fugitives.^[1]

First Baptist Church
43.6546°N 79.3963°W / 43.6546; -79.3963
Location	Toronto, Ontario
Denomination	Baptist
Associations	Canadian Baptist Ministries
Website	https://www.fbctoronto.ca/
History
Founded	1826
Administration
Division	Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

In its long history, the church's location has changed multiple times. Today it holds service at 101 Huron Street.^[2]

History

Queen and Victoria location (1841 to 1905).

The church was formed by 12 fugitive enslaved persons in 1826, under the leadership of Elder Washington Christian.^[2] Reverend Christian was a former enslaved individual who established multiple Baptist churches in Canada.^[1]

It had not been possible to attend existing white churches because the fugitives were required to have a letter from their old church and to pay their old slave masters for the money lost due to their escape.^[2]

At first, services were held outside or in the homes of members of the church.^[4] Reverend Christian rented a masonic temple in 1827. Although some white congregants attended the black church's services, a church for white members was established in 1829.^[5]

There were reportedly 66 members of the First Baptist Church in 1837.^[6] In the same year, a visitor noted that half the congregation was white, half was black.^[7]

In 1841, the congregation moved to its first permanent location after being gifted land by the family of Squires McCutcheon to build a church at Queen Street and Victoria Street.^[8] Soon after, white members left for a different Baptist church.^[7] In 1843, Elder Washington Christian went to Jamaica for two years, returning with enough raised funds to pay off the new church's mortgage.^[8] The location was known as "First Coloured Calvinistic Baptist Church" or "Queen Street Coloured Baptist Church."^[7]

In 1905, it relocated to University Avenue and Edward Street, at which point it was known as "University Avenue Baptist Church".^[7]

University Avenue and Edward location (1905 to 1955). Shown here shortly before demolition.

The name "First Baptist Church" began being used in the 1940s.^[7]

The church relocated to its current address at Huron Street and D'Arcy Street in 1955. The previous property was sold to Shell Oil Company and the building was demolished.^[7]

In 2000, baptized membership was approximately 140 and about the same number attended Sunday church services.^[7]

Locations

Year	Location
1826	No building (service was outside or in congregants' homes).[4]
1827	Rented St. George's Masonic Lodge.[5]
1834	Rented building on March Street (now Lombard Street).[7]
1841	Church building at Queen Street and Victoria Street.[4]
1905	Church building at University Avenue and Edward Street.[4]
1955	Church building at Huron Street and D'Arcy Street (its current location).[4]

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