Our History
Over two centuries ago, St. Andrews was larger than what we think of it today. It wound along the beautiful shores of the St. Croix River, in what is now known as Bayside. We know that a church was erected across from the historic site of Champlain’s Island and it was called First St. Andrews Baptist Church. It is the church that later became known as Bayside United Baptist Church in 1941. It is, in fact, our “Mother Church” making it’s organization and building of interest to us.
It’s recorded that “in 1796 two men, James and Edward Manning, visited Charlotte County and preached up and down these shores (of the St. Croix) which resulted in a great revival of religion. In the early days of their preaching they were known as ‘New Light Preachers’ but later were baptized and were among our first pioneer Baptist Preachers”.
Another well-loved preacher of these early days was Thomas Ansley. He was the son of a British Officer of the Revolutionary War in New York State who came to Canada after the war and settled in Sussex. Thomas became a member of the Baptist church in 1801 and by God’s grace became an effective evangelist. In 1804 he came to Charlotte County and we can imagine him on horseback riding through the woods of our shore line and through the County to homes of the early settlers, organizing churches and leaving a deep spiritual life behind him. Two years later in 1806 the Baptist Church along the St. Croix River shores organized, through the missionary efforts of two more pioneer preachers, Isaac Case and Henry Hall from the Baptist Missionary Society of Mass. Later that year, when they left, there was a church membership of forty two. In the 1938 booklet entitled Some Facts of Interest in the History of the First St. Andrews Baptist Church we are told that an aged resident of Bayside remembers his father telling him that the church was erected in 1810. In another book, Faith of Our Fathers by Roger M. Holdsworth, it’s recorded that it was built in 1837. Today it looks much like it did all those many years ago except that at one time it had a tower that blew down in the Saxby Gale.
In 1838 another pioneer preacher, Rev. A. D. Thomson came serving the church and the membership rose to 105. He served at various times until his death in 1870 and is buried in Bayside Cemetery. Evangelist, Thomas Ansley is also buried there. Praise God for sustaining these pioneer preachers through many hardships as they travelled to this area of New Brunswick with His life changing Word.
The church we are part of today organized in the early 1860’s when members of First St. Andrews Baptist Church started moving into the growing town and found the trek to their church difficult in the winter months. The first minute book of our church records the organization of Second St. Andrews Baptist Church being January 4, 1865. In that year this church building was built in what architects refer to as “Carpenter Gothic” style. It is recorded that “this church was often referred to as the “Wedding Cake Church”. The woodwork visible within the sanctuary was all done by hand by one carpenter over a period of several years and reflects the English influence of the day”. Until 1941 both churches shared one pastor. In 1949 a special service dedicated the church hall. It had formerly been the chapel at the Air Force base in Pennfield and purchased for $1,160.00. There were further additions to enlarge it over the years. In 1965 the baptistery was designed by Howard Gilman and installed. The beautiful stained glass windows were dedicated in memory of loved church family members.
The history compiled and written by Alice Coughey in 1992 lists twenty one charter members according to the minutes of January 4, 1865. One month later six more joined. By the end of 1865 there were 45 members. Let us give God thanks for these men and women and for all those who, for the last 150 years, have gathered here to worship, pray, hear the Word preached and taught, partake of the sacraments, enjoy fellowship and who have shared the love of God in St. Andrews and beyond.