Located at the intersection of St George Street and Highfield Street in Moncton, the Highfield Street United Baptist Church is a remarkable blend of English Gothic and Greek architectural styles. This distinctive church features orange brick construction with contrasting off-white quoins and trims, as well as a notable square bell tower. As a result, it is designated as a Local Historic Place.
The church stands as a testament to one of Moncton’s oldest religious organizations, with its origins tracing back to a 21-member congregation in 1877. Initially known as the Moncton Christian Free and Baptist Church, and later as the West End United Baptist Church, the congregation first met at the Free Meeting House and the Temperance Hall before constructing their first church on this site in 1878. By 1922, the congregation had outgrown its original building, leading to its demolition and the construction of the present church between 1922 and 1923.
Designed by Aylesford, Nova Scotia-based architect Leslie G. Fairn, the church was built by Rhodes and Curry Company of Amherst, N.S. In 1953, the Youth Centre was seamlessly integrated into the north side of the building by the Modern Construction Company. The church’s design incorporates Gothic tracery, gabled pediments, and parapets that contrast with the smooth lines of Roman arch openings, breaking up the brick wall construction. The south side of the church features a coffer-paneled education room that can be opened to increase seating capacity and let in additional natural light through its clearstory windows.
Highfield Street United Baptist Church is also designated for its association with one of Moncton’s oldest religious organizations. In 1877, a congregation of 21 members formed the nucleus of what would become the Moncton Christian Free and Baptist Church later called the West End United Baptist Church. Their first church, after humble beginnings at the Free Meeting House and the Temperance Hall, was built on this site in 1878. By 1922, the congregation had outgrown its facilities, so the original church was razed to make way for the current structure. Rev. Dr. E. W. Patterson, president of Acadia University, dedicated the new church in 1923.
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