Cambridge Street Baptist Church

Originally Published in the Lindsay and Victoria County Old Home Week Souvenir, 1948

The Church was organized in Lindsay on February 2, 1863, by Elder A. McIntyre of Fenelon Falls with a membership of thirteen. Two years later it was received into what was then known as the Haldimand Association of Baptist Churches. The first deacons appointed for church oversight were William Thornhill, Peter Fisher and John Calvert, the last named being added in 1864. Among the charter members were the names Thornhill, Richardson, Magahay, Calvert, Garnett and Fisher. During the first few years of its existence the membership met in homes. The first minister called was the Rev. A.A. Cameron, who took charge in 1864. His salary including a grant from the Baptist Convention of Churches was $400. The Church membership gradually increased and the work became established. Church services began to be held in a small brick building on Cambridge Street South. This building later on was used as the printing office for the town’s first newspaper, “the Victoria Warder.” As time went on meetings were held in the Council Chamber. The Rev. Matthew Gold succeeded Mr. Cameron as pastor. Names which were added to the Church roll by baptism and letter were Veals, Downey, Silver, Reeds, Hickson, Herbert, Killaby, Philips, Hayden and Matthews.

With the increased membership, the need for a Sunday School arose. Thus in 1867 the first Sunday School was organized with William Hamilton as first superintendent. Under Mr. Gold’s ministry the vision of the work enlarged. A lot was secured on the northwest corner of Wellington and Sussex Streets, and there the first Church was built of frame construction. The Church organ was supplied by the pastor himself; it was transported from the pastor’s home to the church each Saturday, by wheel-barrow in the summer, and by sleigh in the winter.

The third minister of the Church was the Rev. John Cameron, father of the late C.J. Cameron, a former Home Mission Secretary. In the year 1873 letters of dismissal were granted to twenty-one members of the Church to form a separate Church in Ops township; this proved to be the beginning of what is known as the Reaboro Baptist Church. During the same year the Rev. William Prosser became minister of the two churches. On a lot immediately west of the Lindsay Church a Church parsonage was built, and a small vestry was added to the Church property. In 1878, the Rev. W.K. Anderson followed the Rev. William Prosser. Three of the deacons at the time were Matthews, Richardson and Mitchell. About the year 1886, the Church in Lindsay became self-supporting. Reaboro Church was then being supplied by a student from the University.

The present building became available during the union of Methodists and Bible Christians. It was acquired through the generosity of Mr. George Matthews. Owing to ill-health the Rev. W.K. Anderson resigned the charge in 1892. Rev. H. Ware succeeded Mr. Anderson; he died a year later at Sturgeon Point. A Mission Circle and a Mission Band were organized about this time. Mr. Ralph Trotter came as a student to the Church in 1893, was ordained and remained as pastor for the next year. Rev. L.S. Hughson became pastor in 1895 and when he resigned in 1903 the Church was in splendid working condition. Under the continuing good leadership of Rev. G.R. Welch (1904-11) and Rev. Herbert Bryant (1911-19) the Church reached its high-water mark in membership, Sunday School attendance and efficient leadership. The membership grew from 150 in 1900 to 237 in 1919. Mr. Fred Waller came from Winnipeg in 1907; his wise counsel and generous assistance in relation to the extensive Church improvements at this time is worthy of special mention. Rev. P.B. Loney served as pastor for a short time in 1920. Rev. Gordon Holmes became pastor in January 1923 and remained for the longest pastorate of fourteen years. In 1926, a new wing was added to the south side of the building for the Primary Department of the Sunday School. The next year a new venture was undertaken; a $3,000.00 mortgage was placed on the Church property. The same year twenty-eight members asked that their names be dropped from the Church roll. Reaboro joined once more with the Lindsay Church, and from 1927 the pastor, Mr. Holmes, ministered to the Reaboro congregation as well. The Rev. P.C. Reed of North Bay Church accepted a call to the Church in 1937. That fall the outside of the Church was repaired. The following spring the Church’s seventy-fifth anniversary was celebrated, an outstanding event in the Church’s history. The organization for improvements to the Church came in the spring of 1943. Rev. F. Stevens succeeded Mr. Reed in June 1943 for a short pastorate. Extensive planning for a new pipe organ and a renovation of the Church interior was started. News came that Mr. and Mrs. Norman Morton of Flint, Michigan, were donating a suitable pipe organ in memory of Mr. Morton’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Morton, who for many years were faithful members of the church. In June 1944, Mr. Ronald D. Harmer followed Mr. Stevens, coming as a graduating student from McMaster University. While the Church building was in the process of renovation, services were held weekly in Anderson funeral chapel on Peel Street. Dedication and re-opening services of the Church were held on November 12, 1944. Two of our guests for the occasion were the Honourable Albert Matthews and Mrs. Matthews. The ordination of the pastor took place on November 29, 1944, in the beautifully redecorated auditorium with the Rev. M.C. MacLean as Moderator of the Ordination Council. Monday evening, April 29, 1946, was a highlight in the Church’s life for on that occasion the Church mortgage was burned. At the present time there is no indebtedness on the Church whatsoever for which praise is given to Almighty God. The pastor, Rev. R.D. Harmer who served the Church four years resigned recently, his resignation taking effect on June 1, 1948. The confidence of the people is that under Mr. Harmer’s successor the work of God’s kingdom through this particular channel will continue to be established.