Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1888 (Creation)
Extent
10000
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Alliance of the Reformed Baptist Church of Canada was formed in 1888, started by Baptist ministers in the Maritimes who had strong spiritual experiences. It was influenced by the Holiness Revival, which focused on living a holy life and spiritual renewal. The church grew quickly in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, expanding from 8 to 66 churches between 1888 and 1913, and growing from 540 to 1,899 members.
In its early years, the Alliance focused on evangelism and starting new churches. Many ministers were ordained to serve across the region. In 1901, Ella Hadassah Kinney Sanders became the first woman in Canada to be ordained by the church. However, the Alliance also faced criticism from traditional Baptist groups who disagreed with its teachings.
Although the Alliance grew at first, it later struggled to keep its momentum, especially as new churches like the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene emerged. In 1966, the Alliance joined with The Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This series contains records from the district-level governance bodies of The Alliance of the Reformed Baptist Church of Canada, which serve as regional administrative units within the broader church structure. The records document district oversight of local churches, clergy, and ministries, including conference minutes, correspondence, reports, appointments, statistics, financials, and policy documents.
They reflect the districts’ role in implementing denominational policy, supervising ministry, and supporting regional church growth, while highlighting the administrative and spiritual priorities of The Alliance of the Reformed Baptist Church of Canada over time.