First Baptist Church, Ottawa

The First Baptist Church, located in Ottawa, is a Baptist church associated with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

Established in 1857, it was the first Baptist congregation in Ottawa. The present-day church is prominently situated at the intersection of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue West in Downtown Ottawa. It was designed by architect James Mather and constructed between 1877 and 1878. The cornerstone was laid by Alexander Mackenzie, who served as the Prime Minister at that time. Mackenzie, being a Baptist himself, attended services at the church during his stays in Ottawa once services began in 1878.

Over the years, the First Baptist Church Ottawa has commemorated the members of its congregation who served in and sacrificed their lives during the Great War and the Second World War. They have erected memorial plaques in their honor.

In 1916, the church underwent expansion, and in 1928, it underwent significant renovations. To mark Canada's Centennial in 1967, a large organ was installed. Restoration work was carried out from 1999 to 2002.

Throughout its history, the congregation has remained in the downtown area and has actively supported the establishment of new congregations, including McPhail Memorial Baptist Church in 1896, Fourth Avenue Baptist Church in The Glebe in 1899, and more recently, Kanata Baptist Church and Bilberry Creek Baptist Church in Orleans.