Binbrook Baptist History of our Church

Binbrook Baptist Church Historical Sketch

1839

A group of Baptists had been meeting together in houses and schools for prayer and worship. On December 13^th Elder William Hooper was released from the Baptist church in Dundas to be the first pastor at Binbrook.

1843

Dundas, Saltfleet and Binbrook Baptist churches organized the first association of Baptist churches in this area.

1853

On October 20^th land was purchased for the first church building and burying ground from William Young, for the sum of 15 pounds.

1854

The church building was built. It was 30ft. wide and 48ft. long, of frame construction (see pictures). All the congregation pitched in during the construction of this building. Dedication services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Davidson, then pastor in Brantford.

1857

After being closed for over a year because of some problems, the church was reorganized and Rev. Thomas Holland Smith became the new pastor.

On July 26 Binbrook Baptist Church members adopted the Articles of Faith known as the New Hampshire Confession and Covenant.

The church was recognized as a Regular Baptist church as a member of what is now the Niagara Hamilton Association of Baptist Churches.

Rev. Smith was the first pastor to be ordained by Binbrook; he was examined and publicly ordained in Binbrook by a properly constituted council from the following Baptist churches: Beamsville, Canboro Village, and North Cayuga.

John Guyatt became the church clerk, he continued this for 40 years.

1867

The Sunday School was organized.

1871

A parsonage was purchased from Rev. G.E. Chesney who had been the pastor for some years.

1895

Rev. S.G. Harris leaves the church after serving the longest Pastorate, 21 years, in the history of Binbrook Baptist Church.

1900

Extensive repairs were made to the church , during which time services were held in the Temperance Hall.

1937

Rev. and Mrs. Getty went as missionaries to India.

1939

On November 26 the church held its 100^th anniversary service. Prof. N.H. Parker of McMaster was the guest speaker

1971

March 14 marked the last service in the old church building; Rev. Philip Brown was the officiating pastor. A new church was to be built in the same location as the old one.

Between April 15 and 29 the old church building was completely demolished by the men and young people in the church. The church services were held in the Orange Hall, next door, during the construction period.

On Sunday April 4 the Sod Turning Ceremony for the new church building was held, with Rev. Philip Brown in charge and Rev. A.E. Coe, a Convention secretary, bringing an appropriate message. Mr. Edward Roberts, one of the older church members, and Robert Black, one of the younger members, turned the sod.

While the church was being built, a new up-to-date parsonage was purchased nearby (3084 Binbrook Rd.).

The Corner-Stone Laying Ceremony for the new church took place on September 26, and the first service was held in the basement of the new church on Christmas Sunday.

1972

From Wednesday April 19 to Saturday April 29, services of dedication for the new church building were held.

1990

From August to September the interior of the church was completely re-painted and new carpet laid.

1999

In January, Rev. Don Theobald leaves the church after serving the second longest Pastorate, 18 years, in the history of Binbrook Baptist Church.

2005

In February, Pastor Ian Vaillancourt was called as Binbrook Baptist's interim pastor (3 month period). In late April, the congregation unanimously voted Ian their full-time pastor.

Binbrook Baptist Church Pastors

Below is a complete list of Pastor’s who have served at Binbrook Baptist Church.

Start Date	Pastor’s Name	Start Date	Pastor’s Name
1839	Elder William Hopper	1939	Rev. A.J. Fletcher
1857	Thos. Holland Smith	1941	Rev. M. Morden
1859	J.P. Islop*	1944	Rev. L. Chubb
1860	Rev. David Way	1946	Rev. J.C. Barton
1862	Rev. Theophorus Booker	1947	Rev. W. Greenawalt
1867	Rev. G.E. Chesney	1948	Rev. S. Gompf
1871	Rev. A. Roberts	1952	Pastor R. Penny
1874	Rev. S.G. Harris	1954	Rev. W.E. Smalley
1896	Rev. Jas. Bracken	1957	Rev. R. Strachan
1900	Rev. J.W. Gregory	1958	Rev. L.R. Waldock
1902	Rev. H.B. Coumans*	1961	Rev. G. Holmes
1906	Rev. J.H. Kelly	1962	Rev. S. Hunter
1910	Rev. D.H. Williamson	1964	Rev. F. Spain
1912	Rev. W.O. Bristol	1965	Pastor E. Barton
1915	Rev. G.I. Burns	1967	Rev. D. Casselman
1921	Rev. J.R. Wolstenscroft	1968	Rev. Philip Brown
1923	Rev. B. Davies	1974	Rev. William Smith
1924	Rev. R.W. Taylor	1980	Rev. Don Theobald
1926	Rev. A.B. Reekie	2003	Rev. Don Clark
1933	Rev. O. Getty**	2005	Pastor Ian Vaillancourt

*J.P. Islop may not have been an official Pastor but merely an occasional preacher, prior to the arrival of Rev. David Way.

**Historic records conflict as to the spelling of this pastor’s name. An alternate spelling of ‘Cowmans’ was found.

***In 1937, Rev. and Mrs. Getty went as missionaries to India.

Pastors from Binbrook Baptist Church

Below is a list of former lay members of our church who have been called to become Pastor’s of other churches.

Pastor’s Name	Notes
Rev. Ira Smith	Son of Thos. Holland Smith
Rev. ?.G. Harris
Rev. John Pettit
Rev. Alex Thompson	Walsh Baptist Church (BCOQ) 1987-1995 Burks Falls Baptist Church (BCOQ) 1995 - 2004
Rev. Dwayne Cline	Hughson Street Baptist Church (FEBC) 1995-present
Rev. Jeff Brown	Cottam Baptist Church (FEBC) 1998-present

This Church was built in 1854

This church building was built in 1900

This is the current building built in 1971