This painting of the Nelson First Baptist Church was done in 2011 by
Tea Preville, a Nelson resident whose body of work has become quite large. She is an artist of eclectic output and eclectic media, this one an oil on canvas, from her online gallery of
churches in Nelson, BC.
First Baptist Church - Nelson, BC by Tea Preville
The photo was taken January 22nd, 2014 at 1:32 P.M. Painting and photo are done/taken from across Fifth Street, looking west.
Construction began on the first First Baptist Church in early May of 1898 and the first services were held in the new building on August 20, 1898. In May of 1923, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church, stained glass windows were installed to replace all the front and side windows of the building, except the arched window over the south door. These windows were salvaged from the old building and are the selfsame stained glass windows seen in the present building.
Not long before the construction of the present church, the church had fallen on hard times and nearly closed its doors.
Construction on this building began in October of 1950 and the final services were held in the old church on January 13, 1951. The Sanctuary of the new church was opened and dedicated on June 10, 1951.