Canberra Baptist Church

The Canberra Baptist Church, Kingston is a member of the Open Baptist Association. This church building was the first Baptist Church constructed in the ACT. The driving force behind the establishment of a Baptist Church in Canberra was the Rev Dr A J Waldock, the Chairman of the Federal Home Mission Board, who selected the site in 1926. He was also appointed to raise the funds for the church building, but this fell short and the balance was made up by a bank loan. The church building was opened and dedicated on 24/2/1929. Dr Waldock was appointed as the foundation minister, a role he held from 1929 to 1948. He made plans for a larger church building in keeping with plans for 'cathedral' size churches in the national capital. This plan however was never implimented, and a Governement Hut was acquired in 1952 for use as a church hall. A new hall was constructed and opened on 14/4/1962, and dedicated to the memory of Dr Waldock, the hut being retained for other congregational needs. A Sunday School was also inaugurated in 1929 by Dr Waldock. For doctrinal reasons this church/congregation was disaffilated by the NSW/ACT Baptist Association on 3/5/2025, and now functions as an Independent Baptist Church. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 26/10/2025.

 

 

For more of the Church story see - https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/148433/canberra-baptist-church-background-information.pdf