Sandwich First Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandwich First Baptist Church |
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| Église de la First Baptist Church de Sandwich | |
The entrance to the church in 2008
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| Location | 3652 Peter Street Windsor, Ontario N9C 1J7 |
| Built | 1851 |
| Designated | 1999 |
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The Sandwich First Baptist Church is a very important Black Baptist church located in the Sandwich area of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This church was created to help people who had escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad. The church group started around 1840. The building you see today was built in 1851. Because of its important history, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999.
A Place of Freedom: The Church's History
How the Church Began
The Sandwich area was a safe place for many people escaping slavery. This was because it was very close to the Detroit River. The river was one of the main crossing points into Canada for the Underground Railroad. By 1827, about 600 Black people lived in the Sandwich area.
Baptists had been living in Sandwich since at least 1826. However, the First Baptist Church officially started around 1840. At first, the church members met in each other's homes. Later, in 1847, they built a small log cabin to meet in.
Madison J. Lightfoot was the first minister of the church. He had also helped start the Second Baptist Church in Detroit. He served as the minister until 1853.
Working Together for Change
The Sandwich First Baptist Church joined with two other churches. These were the Detroit Second Baptist Church and the Amherstburg First Baptist Church. Together, they formed the Amherstburg Regular Missionary Baptist Association (ARMBA) in 1841. This group, first called the Baptist Association of Colored People, worked to support Black Baptists. They later became very active in fighting against slavery. By 1861, the group had grown from 47 members to over 1,000.
Building the Church
After raising money, the church building was constructed in 1851. Queen Victoria herself gave the church a piece of land. This land was for building the church and a graveyard. Many people in the community helped build it. They made bricks by hand from clay found in the Detroit River. Wealthier members bought bricks from a local brickyard. Trees from the area were also used to build the church.
Even though the first stone was laid in 1851, the building was not finished by 1852. Church members had to ask for more donations to complete the construction.
A Secret Hiding Place
Like other Black churches near the border, the Sandwich church offered help and support. It was a safe haven for those escaping slavery and unfair treatment. The church was very involved in fighting slavery. Monthly meetings were held there to speak out against it.
Local stories say that people escaping slavery would hide in the church. This helped them avoid slave-catchers. While it's hard to find proof of these secret activities, the church's design supports these stories. It has many small crawlspaces. There was also a trap door that led to the basement. These features suggest the church was indeed used as a hiding spot.
A Historic Landmark Today
The Sandwich First Baptist Church was recognized by the Ontario Heritage Act in 1995. It was then named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999. The church still operates today and welcomes visitors interested in its history. In 1996, about 14,000 tourists visited the site.
In 2020, the church received money to create a museum. This museum will be dedicated to the Underground Railroad. The church's story was also featured in a 2020 movie called The North Was Our Canaan.
What the Church Looks Like
The church building is small and simple. Its design is similar to other early Black churches in Ontario. It has a gabled roof and a rectangular shape. What makes it special is that it's made of brick. The church's wooden floors, ceiling, and wainscoting (wood paneling on the lower part of the walls) were all made by hand. In 1868, a stove that burned coal was bought and installed.
A two-story tower with a crenellated (castle-like) top stands at the church's entrance. This tower was not part of the original design. It was added in 1920 to replace an old wooden entrance that was falling apart. Other Gothic revival decorations, like arches and pointed windows, were added over time. An extension was also built at the back of the church at some point. However, the main meeting hall inside has mostly stayed the same.
