One of only two National Historic Sites in Windsor, the Sandwich First Baptist Church on Peter Street in Windsor’s far west end, was built around 1851.
Records indicate the congregation officially began around 1840, with worship being held in a log cabin the congregation built. Shortly after that Queen Victoria & the Crown, gave a land grant to the congregation, and in August, 1851 the present church was dedicated. The bricks for the church were all handmade by members of the congregation, many of whom were fugitive slaves from the United States.
By the 1970’s the congregation had shrunk and the church was closed and abandoned. A dedicated group of volunteers helped see the church reopened and put back to use by around 1985-86.
This building is an amazing part of this region’s history, and is one of the sites that will be included in this year’s Doors Open lineup.
For more informatioan about the story of this chuch, click this link here -> http://www.windsor-communities.com/african-religion-sandwich.php
** As a side note, where did May go? Seems like it just flew by… Tomorrow is June already!
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seriously hey? where DID may go?! this whole year seems to be blowing by, next thing ya know it’s cold again 🙁 lol
i love this church based purley on it’s history. I had read that at some point the bricks had been sandblasted, and the homemade bricks have been deteriorating ever since without the glaze on them. has this ever been resolved?
This year i hope to finally be able to attend a doors open. i’ve never been and it makes me disappionted in myself lol. i wish the westend wasn’t so iffy to walk around in. i know it’s truly not a dangerous place as preceived by many……but those few people in that community who run around with guns just keep me out. i love the set up of the streets, the ancient trees and houses, but i can’t feel comfortable walking around with a camera and my wife. i want to LIVE in Sandwich, be part of it’s rich history…but the same reasons keep me out.
i guess it won’t change unless “good” people move in anyways and drive the “bad” out.
hmm…i seems to be full of spelling mistakes today.
thanks Andrew! a pleasure as always.
“. . . where did May go? Seems like it just flew by… Tomorrow is June already!”
Sounds like my life! You’re just getting old! lol
I remember the church painted yellow. Used to ride past it on city bus or bicycle almost daily for sveral years as I grew up in Brighton Beach (aka “Dogpatch”), attended Forster and worked at the old Sandwich Public Library on Mill. Now there’s a building that ought to have been saved!
I love the lines of this church and am going to be sure to check it out at Doors Open. I sure hope the bricks are being protected now.
There is no reason to fear walking the streets of Sandwich.Most people there are friendly and though this may be one of our city’s more modest neighbourhoods you are as safe there as any place else in town.
I have never felt insecure on the streets in Sandwich, mainly because there are so many pedestrians on the street. Unlike other neighborhoods where you never see a soul, there are hundreds of university students on the sidewalks constantly walking to and from classes or to the stores to get supplies. Further away from the U you have children walking to Brock school and Forster. If only downtown Ouellette had the same traffic.
Make sure you check out the graveyard close by. Lots of interesting history there too.
I have been looking for pictures of the Brighton beach area. does anyone have any info of the residential area and some photo’s to share