Walmer Road Baptist Church

History

Early in 1889 Elmore Harris then pastor Bloor Street Baptist Church (which became Yorkminster Park Baptist Church) became convinced that there was need of more facilities for divine worship in the north-western part of Toronto. After consulting with his friends and sympathizers it was decided that Walmer Road was the most suitable spot where a church might be erected. Immediately the question of site was decided upon by Mr. Alanson Harris, of Brantford (founder of A. Harris, Son & Co. Ltd.) purchased the lot whereon the church now stands, at a cost of $7,600.

In April, 1889, Elmore Harris resigned as pastor of Bloor Street Church, which took effect on 15 October 1889. The first building (later referred to as the school chapel) was completed in October, 1889, and was opened on 20 October 1889. Sixty-two people received letters of transfer from the Bloor Street Church. During its first years many people united with the church from the Sabbath School (Sunday School). In the latter half of 1891 it was found that increased accommodation was necessary, and as soon as this became known Mr. Alanson Harris and Mrs. John Harris, stated their willingness to provide the funds to enlarge the building. Accordingly the main sanctuary of the church, was erected, at a cost of $70,000 and became, as far as accommodation was concerned, the largest church in Canada. The dedication of the new sanctuary took place on 6 November 1892.

Architecture

Walmer Road Baptist Church was designed and built in 1889-1892 in the Gothic Revival style by the architectural firm of Henry Langley and Edmund Burke. The interior of the church was built to accommodate on the floor and in the galleries, at least 1,500 people.

Outreach

Christie Street Baptist Church was founded in 1898 by the congregation from Walmer Road. Until the beginning of the year 1902 it was a mission agency. It was officially organized in 1907 under pastor H. R. Nobles.

High Park Baptist Church was begun in 1909 in the Brockton Village neighbourhood (now Roncesvalles, Toronto) on Hewitt Avenue. It was founded as the Hewitt Avenue Mission.

Vision for Training the Laity

In 1894, Harris and a small group of like-minded individuals founded a lay training institute known as the Toronto Bible Training School. Elmore Harris became the first President and William Boyd Stewart (former pastor of Bond Street Baptist Church) was the first principal. Courses were held at the Walmer Road church for the first four years until they relocated to new facilities at 110 College Street in 1898. The vision of the founders was to train laypeople as Sunday School teachers, pastors' assistants, and as city, home and foreign missionaries. Initially the training program was two years but was expanded to three and became the Tyndale University College and Seminary.

During Howard Bentall's time as pastor a vision for a lay training institute was once again revived and beginning in September 1957 the Baptist Training Institute or BTI was formed. It was designed as a two-year lay training program patterned after the similar Baptist Leadership Training School (BLTS – a one year lay training institute which started in 1949) located in Calgary, Alberta. The first number of years of BTI were conducted at Walmer Road. A few years later BTI was moved to Brantford, Ontario and after a number of years ceased to exist. This vision, led again by Leonard Charles Cullen owner of Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village, was once again realized in the formation of the Baptist Leadership Education Centre (BLEC) in Whitby, Ontario in 1985. It too however did not last.

Pastors

Elmore Harris served from October 1889 to November 27, 1895 when he resigned as pastor on account of failing health. Harris continued to serve in an advisory capacity until his death in 1911. W. W. Weeks, (formerly the pastor of the First Church, Moncton, New Brunswick) began the charge at Walmer Road Church, in December 1895. The membership at that date was 480. In 1900 it was 700. Mr. Weeks was considered “an earnest preacher and a most indefatigable worker”. He served until 1906. William Henry Porter served as an assistant pastor during this era. Porter’s son George was married to a niece of Elmore Harris. In the days of John MacNeill, minister of the church from 1906 to 1930, the membership became 2,000.

C. Howard Bentall served from 1946-1959. He was followed by Harvey L. Denton (from the Atlantic provinces) from 1959-1963. Reginald Stewart Dunn (also from the Atlantic provinces) served from 1963 to 1972. (He served as President of the Canadian Council of Churches from 1966–1969.) Lloyd Neal came in 1973.