The Kingsway
Story
For more than 60 years, we have traveled together as a community
of believers, joined in our desire to worship God, to witness
to our relationship with Jesus Christ, and to serve others.
The history of Kingsway Baptist Church dates back to the early
1940s, when the Baptist Church Extension Board asked members
of the Farmer Memorial Baptist Church in the Swansea district
of West Toronto whether they would be interested in starting
a new church in the rapidly growing Kingsway district.
After much debate, a decision was taken at a business meeting
on May 27, 1942 that Farmer Memorial would remain in Swansea.
The same evening, a group of 62 Farmer members decided to start
their own church in The Kingsway.
Just two days later, Rev Frederick Burrell and ten men held
the first meeting to organize a Baptist church in the Kingsway-Lambton
and Islington areas. Shortly afterwards, they began negotiating
to buy the property at the corner of Montgomery Road and Birchview
Boulevard.
The new church was initially named Westminster Baptist, and
was recognized by the Toronto Association of Baptist Churches
on September 27, 1942. The same month, worship services began
in the Kingsway Theatre on Bloor Street West.
The name of the church was changed to Kingsway Baptist in June
1946 to give it a closer identity with the neighbouring community.
In late 1947, a family within the fledgling church donated
two properties adjoining the original site for the purpose of
Christian education. However, these properties – the site
of the present Brentwood public library – were sold three
years later to pay off a debt.
The sod-turning service for the present church building was
held in February 1948. The first service in the new sanctuary
took place just 14 months later, on April 24, 1949.
From these origins has emerged a caring, searching and generous
church family. Through the years, our credo has remained:
"Keep your roots deep in Christ Jesus, build your lives
on Him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught.
And be filled with thanksgiving." Colossians 2: 6-7
• For a more detailed history of Kingsway Baptist Church,
see "A Congregation Remembers" by Rev. Linda Sparks,
published to mark the church's 50th anniversary in 1992. |
