Burnaby North Baptist Church

In 1912, a simple tent stood at the corner of Triumph Street and Carleton Avenue. This marked the humble beginnings of the Burnaby North Baptist Church. Let’s explore the fascinating journey of this church. The Burnaby North Baptist Church, originally called “The Vancouver Heights Baptist Church,” held its first meeting on March 24, 1912. A Sunday school with around fifty pupils started simultaneously. The church quickly gained a small membership. It received official recognition from the Baptist convention on June 6th of the same year. About a year later, a small, single-room building replaced the tent at the same location. Reverend George Black, who already served other Baptist congregations in Vancouver, became the first pastor. The church faced a period without a permanent pastor between 1916 and 1919 due to wartime shortages. In 1929, the church building expanded to accommodate the growing Sunday school. However, the Burnaby School Board soon purchased the property in 1931 for $6,000 to build a new school. This led to the church acquiring its current location at 3977 Albert Street. Under Reverend A.W. Mayse, a new building was constructed and opened debt-free within nine months. Soon after, the church appointed its first full-time minister, Reverend Henry Knox. He began a 14-year ministry until his retirement in 1946. During Reverend James Smith’s subsequent pastorate, the church bought its first parsonage on Trinity Street. They also ran a mission Sunday school and midweek children’s programs in the expanding Brentwood area. By 1948-1950, the church reported 185 children attending these midweek groups. The Sunday school continued to thrive in the 1950s. In 1957, an influx of seventy-five pupils prompted the construction of a Sunday school hall behind the church. Enrollment peaked at 236 children in 1958, shortly after the hall’s completion, under Reverend David Forbes. The growing congregation desired larger facilities. During the 1970s, under Reverend Ernest Hanson, the church searched for a bigger location further east in Burnaby. However, finding a suitable property proved challenging. In 1975, the church decided to rebuild and expand the existing sanctuary. This renovation was completed under Dr. Benson Jones. The church was renamed “Burnaby North Baptist Church” at the rededication service on October 3, 1976. The renovation debt of $175,000 was cleared about five years later. The Burnaby North Baptist Church has seen many changes and transitions over the years. It continues to serve its community at 3977 Albert Street.