In 1858, Rev. Samuel Robinson of the
Brussels Street Baptist Church saw the need to establish two missions -- one at
the corner of Pitt and Duke and the other at Marsh Bridge. In 1860, a more
central location was desired for a new church so one was built on Leinster
Street. That church burned in the Great Fire of 1877 and was replaced by a
larger church started in 1878.
On July 20, 1878, the cornerstone was laid and by September 15 of the same year Leinster Street occupied its new vestry. The church was largely of Byzantine architecture with a stately spire ( removed in 1955 for safety reasons) and two rose windows. The rose window on the Leinster Street side contains a original rose glass manufactured only in Europe. There are only 12 of these windows in North America. The original organ was manufactured in a factory on King Street East owned by F.A. Peters, but was replace in 1937 by a new Casavant Organ. Funds for this were raised by special donations . All donors' names are stored in a sealed box in the organ.
All pages © Heritage Resources and New Brunswick Community
College - Saint John.