First Baptist Church, Kingston

Located at the prominent northwest corner of Johnson and Sydenham Streets in Kingston, the First Baptist Church is a notable heritage landmark built in local Kingston limestone and designed in the Romanesque Revival style. The church as it stands today was constructed in phases between 1904 and 1913, beginning with the church hall and later completed with the sanctuary in 1912–1913. Its cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1913, by the Hon. John A. Boyd, Chancellor of Ontario and a notable Baptist layman.

The First Baptist congregation in Kingston dates back to 1840, with its original building once located further east on Johnson Street, now the site of the Greek Orthodox Church. The current property was acquired in 1901, largely through the efforts of Reverend Douglas Laing, who led the congregation from 1889 to 1917 and was a driving force behind both the land purchase and church construction.

In 1966, a major fire gutted the church hall, though the sanctuary and parsonage were spared due to the protection of firewalls. The church was rebuilt following the original architectural style, preserving its historic character and presence in the neighborhood.

The First Baptist Church was designated a heritage property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act by the City of Kingston on March 1, 1984, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. Today, it remains a prominent feature in Kingston’s historic streetscape, reflecting over a century of spiritual, cultural, and civic history.