The History of Germain Street Baptist Church, St. John, N.B., for its first one hundred years, 1810-1910

by Thomas D. Denham

FIRST PASTOR CALLED.

The first pastor, the Rev. Edmund Reice, was called in 1813. He was a Frenchman who came to Halifax as a midshipman in a French vessel which was taken as a prize by the English. His conversion was remarkable. Intent, like many of his countrymen, on deriding religion, and leading a ball in a house just opposite the place where the revival meetings were held at Yarmouth, like Saul, he was struck down by the power of God and in intense agony of soul he cried aloud for mercy. He was truly converted, became a Baptist, and entered the ministry. After preaching for some time elsewhere, he was called to be a pastor of this Church.. During his pastorate a revival occurred and many were added to the Lord. He remained as a pastor about three years. Later he went to New Orleans to evangelize the French, and afterwards was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Baltimore, where he died.

Places of Meeting.

The Church first worshipped in a small room on the ground floor of a building on the south side of Princess Street, owned and occupied by Mr. Cornelius Harbell. The building was next to the residence of the late Dr. Sheffield. From Princess street the Church moved to and occupied a small church edifice on Germain street, between Duke and Queen. This building had been used, on the formation of the city, as a court house and common council chamber. It was then occupied by the Episcopalians, and afterwards by the Methodists. It soon became too small, and in 1815 the present site, on the corner of Germain and Queen streets, was purchased. The first building was completed and dedicated in July, 1818. The following advertisement appeared in the city papers: “A new Baptist meeting house will be opened for the worship of God on Lord’s Day next, when appropriate sermons will be preached and hymns sung. Collections will be made toward the expense of the building. Services at 11 A. M. and 6 P.M.

(Sgd.) THOMAS GRIFFIN, Pastor.

St. John, July 8th, 1818."

This shows that even at the early date the ministers realized the value of the press.

This old wooden Church fronted on Queen street and had a seating capacity of 500 to 600. On each side of the entrance was a short flight of stairs leading up to the Church. At the head of these stairs in recesses on either side were large stoves for heating the building. Opposite the entrance was a high box pulpit with fourteen steps leading up to it. Behind the pulpit was a large window looking north. In front was a square pew with a railing round the top and dark maroon curtains. In the pew was a table on which were four pewter plates used in taking up the collection. During the service the deacons sat in this pew. At this time they were: Drake, Pettingill and Gale. There was a gallery on three sides of the Church—the choir being opposite the pulpit. In the gallery to the left of the minister sat the colored people, of whom there were quite a number. On the ground floor the wall pews were square, while those in the centre were single pews. The pews were upholstered to suit the taste of the owners, some being done with scarlet, garnet or green, and the others with more somber colors. When the Church was enlarged, in 1838, the old-fashioned high pulpit was removed, much to the satisfaction of the worshippers. William Stenning and Thomas Harding superintended the erection of the new Church, and Brother Stenning’s funeral sermon was the first preached in the building. Subscriptions towards the building fund were opened October 14th, 1815. The following are among the amongst contributed: Thomas Pettingill, John M. Wilmot, Thomas Harding and William Stenning £50 each; Nathan Garrison £25; John Dyer and William Harding £20 each; Benjamin Gale and Henry Blakslee £15 each; Andrew S. Green, Joshua Lane, Samuel Chadburn, Henry Holmes and Jeremiah Drake £10 each; and others from £1 to £5.

Lighting.

At first candles were used to light the Church. From the centre of the ceiling was suspended a brass chandelier with twenty-four candles. On the walls of the main floor and gallery above every third pew there was a movable candlestick, and on each side of the reading desk were two movable candlesticks attached to stationary stands. The sexton wearing soft slippers would noiselessly ascend the pulpit steps, snuffers and tray in hand, and passing behind the minister snuff the candles; then closing the pulpit door, slowly descend the steps. He would then proceed round the Church snuffing the candles—some fifty in all. By the time had made a circuit of the church it was time to commence again, and usually he made the rounds three times during the service. At times a draft from the door or window would cause the candles to flare, and many a broadcloth coat or silk dress would be spattered with grease. In course of time sperm oil lamps were substituted for the candles, and they were considered a very great improvement. In 1845, gas was introduced into the city, and used in this church for the first time at the formation of the Maritime Convention in 1846. The present system of electric lighting having been introduced only so recently as 1906.