Church History
Throughout 1928 and 1929, God convicted two families that the whole gospel of the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation must be preached. Counting the cost, they decided that God’s voice must not be ignored.
Services were held on Sundays in the home of Author and Sarah Knights and Sunday schools at their son’s home, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Knights with a Bible study and prayer meeting mid-week.
In September 1931, the homes no longer could accommodate the crowds and it was decided a church building would be built. In May 1931, the church was organized as Maple Hill Gospel Tabernacle with fourteen charter members. They committed $500 to the building project then and more was gifted later by individuals. The building was first located on a hill on the farm of Mr. Robert Knights and could be seen for many miles.
Nearly all the building materials were second-hand and delivered free-of-charge by a church member. The pews came from the old theatre while the doors and auditorium lights came from the old Toronto Bible College. Most of the work was done by volunteers, many of whom were farmers trusting God for good weather to finish their farm work as they willingly left to help with the building. God answered their prayers and they farmed their land until mid December that year.
On November 22, 1931, the dedication service of the Maple Hill Gospel Tabernacle was held. The following summer, the first baptismal service was held in the river at Brown Hill and 20 people were baptized. An outdoor baptismal service is still held every summer.
Over many years, the work of the Lord was blessed and the church leadership felt more space was needed. In the fall of 1957, the church building was moved from the original site at the top of the hill halfway down the hill to a lot donated by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Knights. The building was enlarged, with a basement, Sunday school rooms and modern heating. The work grew and many came to know Jesus Christ as Saviour.
In 1963, a youth centre was built on a large lot on donated land on Glenwoods Avenue. It was known as the Youth Centre. Youth rallies were held every Saturday night and in 1964 the Cook’s Baptist Church, a sister church to Maple Hill held services Sunday school each Sunday morning for some time before the leadership decided to rent Jersey Public School to accommodate two Sunday Schools and Sunday morning worship service.
In the late 1960s, the church leadership began discussing building a new church on the same property as the youth centre. For the next couple of summers, outdoor services were held on the grounds of the youth centre and plans for the new building were completed. A sod turning ceremony was held and many months later, Maple Hill Baptist Church was opened in its present location on June 29, 1975.
The church celebrated its 91st anniversary in May 2022.