Brantford's Churches Alexandra Presbyterian Church The forerunners of this church were the Wellington Street Presbyterian Church (1845-1877) and the First Presbyterian Church (1878-1901), both located at the corner of Wellington and George Streets. In 1901 it was decided to close the First Presbyterian Church and open a new church in the East Ward of Brantford. Alexandra Presbyterian Church was built in 1901 at the corner of Peel and Colborne Streets with dedication services being held in December 1901. In 1912 it was decided that a larger church was needed and the corner stone for the new building, on an unoccupied section of the same site, was laid on September 12, 1912 (Brantford Weekly Expositor, September 19, 1912, p. 15) with the opening of the church in June 1913. The original church was used as a Sunday school. The church was named for Princess Alexandra of Denmark who later married Edward VII, not because of its proximity to Alexandra Park. This congregation refused to join the United Church of Canada in 1925. Major renovations were done in 1978 with most of the original building being demolished for a new entrance and parking lot. Centennial anniversary: Alexandra Presbyterian Church, Brantford, Ontario 1845-1945 provides more information about this church. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 78 of PDF) Brant Avenue United Church The school room of this church at 137 Brant Avenue was finished in December 1870 while the main part of the church was completed in 1871. Until 1873 when it became independent from the Wellington Street Church, it was known as the Dumfries Street Church. W. H. C. Kerr suggested the name be changed to Brant Avenue. The original school room was torn down and a new transept and school was built with the church being dedicated on April 11, 1875. The church's golden jubilee was celebrated in June 1921. Originally a Methodist church it became the Brant Avenue United Church in 1925 when the Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and Methodist churches joined the United Church of Canada. The rear parish hall was built in 1953. The church burned down on April 20, 1963 (Brantford Expositor, April 22, 1963, p. 11). There was over $100,000 damage and the organ valued at $40,000 was destroyed. The first service was held in the church on May 3, 1964 while it was still being rebuilt and by October 1964 the restored sanctuary was open for worship. The Brant Avenue Church celebrated its 100th anniversary in October 1971. In 1995 the congregations of Brant Avenue and Zion United Churches voted to amalgamate because of declining attendance. The amalgamated church was renamed St. Andrew's United Church with the Darling Street church across from Victoria Park in downtown Brantford being used for services. Several years later Brant Avenue Church was renovated into apartments. Centennial, Brant Avenue United Church: a collection of historical notes and pictures marking the 100th anniversary of the Church provides more information. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 112, 122 of PDF) . Warner's 1883 History (p. 169-170 of PDF) Cainsville United Church The first church, originally a Methodist Church, was built in 1851 on a lot on the bank of the Grand River donated by Peter Cain. In 1874 it was decided that a larger church was needed and by 1875 the new church with a seating capacity of about 400 was open for worship. In 1951 a large addition was built, including the Fellowship Hall, vestry, bathrooms, choir room, and furnace room. The church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1975. Cainsville United Church amalgamated with Marlboro United Church and was renamed Harmony United Church with the congregation using the church at 268 Marlborough Street. Theatre Brantford bought the Cainsville Church in 1998 to use as a theatre and arts centre but sold it in 2004 to Langford Church Ministries after they found the mortgage and heating costs too expensive. Langford Church Ministries planned to use it as a church again but couldn't afford to fix up the building to meet heritage standards. The book 100th Anniversary 1875-1975 provides more information about the Cainsville United Church. Colborne Street United Church In 1885 the property on Colborne Street where the "Widows Row" charity houses were located was purchased for the church. The corner stone was laid by Rev. T. S. Linscott on October 5, 1886. The Sunday school opened on May 1, 1887 while the sanctuary was opened and dedicated in April 1888. In 1909 the church underwent a major renovation. Originally a Methodist church it became the Colborne Street United Church in 1925 when the Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and Methodist churches joined the United Church of Canada. The corner stone of the Memorial Hall, a tribute to the heroic dead of World War I and World War II, was laid on May 21, 1947 and dedicated in 1948. The church celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1962. On April 29, 1984 there was a fire, with damage of more than $100,000, in the Memorial Hall (Brantford Expositor, April 30, 1984, p. 1). In the 1990s Colborne Street United Church amalgamated with Wellington Street United Church to become Heritage United Church. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 122, 127 of PDF) Farringdon Independent Church This church was established in 1833 with the congregation meeting in member's homes until the first church, a frame building, was erected on Mt. Pleasant Road in 1839. It was originally known as the Inghamite Church, the only one in North America, whose members came from England. The church's name was changed to Farringdon because it was built on a section of the Farringdon farm so named by Richard Brooks, the original owner, after his native town in Berkshire, England. The church elders served as lay preachers until 1926 when the church got its first minister. The original church was demolished with a larger church being built on the same site in 1855. This church was used until 1948 when the congregation decided to build a new church which opened on September 11, 1949. Farringdon Church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1983 (Brantford Expositor, January 15, 1983, p. 13) and its 165th anniversary in 1998 (Brantford Expositor, March 11, 1998, p. C3). The church also manages a 34-acre cemetery surrounding the building where over 10,000 people are buried. More information about this church is provided in Farringdon Church its history and background from 188 to 1951 and the church today compiled by Elsie G. Foulds and Helen M. Kippax. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 128 of PDF) . 1888 Telegram (p. 17 of PDF) First Baptist Church The First Baptist Church was established in December 1833 with meetings being held in various buildings and houses. The first church was built on the north side of Colborne Street. In 1855 the congregation relocated to a new church on West Street. This church was destroyed by fire on January 12, 1857. Church members met at a vacant store owned by James Kerby on Colborne Street and later at the courthouse while a new church was being built on the same site. John Turner was the architect of the new building which cost $18,000 and opened at the end of December 1857. In 1887 an addition was made to the rear of the church and in 1928 a Sunday school wing was added. The ladies' parlour in the Sunday school became a chapel for evening services and small weddings in 1969. This chapel was named the Calvary Memorial Chapel, in honour of Calvary Baptist Church which merged with First Baptist Church. In May 1972 more than 1,000 pounds of plaster and lath fell from the auditorium ceiling destroying 20 pews and causing other damage (Brantford Expositor, May 13, 1972, p. 1). Once the damage was repaired the dedication of the restored sanctuary took place in May 1973. This church celebrated its 165th anniversary in 1998. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 63 of PDF) . Warner's 1883 History (p. 170 of PDF) . Reville's History Volume 2 (p. 137-139 of PDF) Grace Anglican Church The first Grace Anglican Church, the oldest church in Brantford, was built in 1832. It was a white frame building located in the area of Albion and West Streets (originally called Cedar Street). The lots were the gifts of A. K. Smith and his sister, Mrs. Margaret Kerby. Rev. James Usher became the first rector in 1836. More space was needed for the congregation and on October 14, 1856 the corner stone of the new brick church at 15 Albion Street, designed by John Turner, was laid. The bodies of the people buried next to the church were relocated. In April 1881 the original Sunday school on Pearl Street was enlarged. A stone memorial tower was built during World War I, the gift of Col. Reuben Leonard, a former Brantford citizen. In 1918 the parish hall was built. The main body of the church, including the organ, was refurbished in the 1970s. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1980 (Brantford Expositor, April 28, 1980, p. 11). In 2003 St. Stephen's Anglican Church and Grace Anglican Church became one congregation with the church on Albion Street being used. St. Stephen's Church was torn down and replaced with houses. Grace Anglican Church, Brantford, Ontario, Canada 1830-1980 provides a more detailed history of this church. For more information: . Expositor Semi-Centennial 1877-1927 (p. 54 of PDF) . Warner's 1883 History (p.