Metropolitan Bible Church

Last updated
Metropolitan Bible Church
Metropolitan Bible Church.jpg
Building in Nepean
Metropolitan Bible Church
45°19′53″N75°42′9″W / 45.33139°N 75.70250°W / 45.33139; -75.70250
Location Ottawa, Ontario
CountryCanada
Denomination Evangelical
Associations Associated Gospel Churches of Canada
Weekly attendance2,700 [1]
Website metbiblechurch.ca
History
Founded1931
Architecture
Architect(s) Ralph Vandenburgh, Parker Architects [2]
Construction cost$16.8 million (CAD)
Specifications
Capacity1,850 [3]
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Jonathan Griffiths, since 2016

The Metropolitan Bible Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch based in the Nepean neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, affiliated with Associated Gospel Churches of Canada. Its senior pastor is Jonathan Griffiths.

Contents

History

20th century: inception and growth

Front of the building on Bank Street Metropolitan Bible Church at 453 Bank Street.jpg
Front of the building on Bank Street

The Metropolitan Bible Church originally started meeting in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Huckell's Hall in Higgerty's Shoe Store on Bank Street. That meeting turned into a first gathering of 80 people on September 13, 1931, at 453 Bank Street. [3] The Bank Street land was then purchased for $6,500. [4] The church building was built similarly to a movie theatre, so that it could be used as such if the church became unsuccessful. However, the church attendance rapidly grew, to the point that the building needed to expand. For this reason, the adjacent Esso was demolished and relocated to the other side of Bank Street, allowing the church to expand its size. The main and second floors of the new building included adult classes as well as the library, nursery and office rooms. The newly built basement included rooms for child and youth ministry, a gymnasium and a kitchen, as well as an elevator designed exclusively for accessibility purposes. In 1967, the church is renamed "Metropolitan Bible Church". [5]

2000s: new building and relocation

By the new millennium, the church building was getting too small to accommodate its guests. For example, the Metropolitan Bible Church held services at Carleton University for additional guests. Additionally, the youth ministry's night services were relocated to nearby churches and/or schools because women were gathering at the Met during the same time. The need for additional space prompted the church to seek a new building that it would build debt-free, at a cost of $13.5 million, by using guests' general and earmarked donations, with 1,550 seats. [3] In June 2007, some volunteers started to help clear the eight-acre piece of land for the new location. The new location was to be at Prince of Wales Drive & West Hunt Club Road. Up until the new church was built, church attendance was of 1,800 guests meeting in various buildings. [3] The last service at the Bank Street location was on July 27, 2008. [4]

2010s: expansion

Pastor Rick Reed left the church in November 2012 after 14 years of service. The Phase IIA Building Project added a 300-seat chapel, additional Sunday school classrooms, an expanded library and additional washrooms at a debt-free budget of $3.3 million. [6] Future plans will increase the number of auditorium seats to 2,100, bringing its size to that of a small megachurch. The chapel's purpose is to provide overflow seating while also allowing smaller events to take place there. [2]

In 2017, the church has a regular attendance of 2,700. [1]

Staff

Senior Pastors

The following senior pastors have served at the Metropolitan Bible Church: [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Road Baptist Church</span> Megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia

Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) is a Baptist megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia, located on the campus of Liberty University, which it founded and is closely affiliated with. In 2016, a church spokesperson stated they had an average weekly attendance of 9,000. The pastor is Jonathan Falwell, the son of previous Senior Pastor Jerry Falwell and brother of former Liberty University President, Jerry Falwell Jr. In addition to a second campus, Dan River Church, Thomas Road also hosts a Spanish congregation on its main campus. It is affiliated with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International and the Southern Baptist Convention.

A megachurch is a church with a very large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities. Most megachurches are Protestant, and particularly Evangelical, although the word denotes a type of organization, not a denomination. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research defines a megachurch as any Protestant Christian church that draws 2,000 or more people in a weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakewood Church</span> Church in Texas, United States

Lakewood Church is a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is among the largest congregations in the United States, averaging about 45,000 attendees per week. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church building, home to four English-language services and two Spanish-language services per week, is located at the former Compaq Center. Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria, who serves as co-pastor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback Church</span> Church in other locations across the world, United States

Saddleback Church is an evangelical, non-denominational Christian multi-site megachurch based in Lake Forest, California. It is the largest church in California, and one of the largest in the United States of America. The church has several campuses in California and around the world, as well as a number of extensions. Weekly church attendance was 30,000 people in 2023. Its senior pastor is Andy Wood, and his wife, Stacie Wood, is a teaching pastor. Saddleback was formerly associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, until 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angelus Temple</span> Church in Los Angeles, United States

Angelus Temple is a Pentecostal megachurch in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded by Aimee Semple McPherson in 1923, it is considered the first U.S. megachurch.

McLean Bible Church is a non-denominational evangelical multi-site megachurch based in Vienna, Virginia. It has several locations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Seacoast is a non-denominational evangelical multi-site megachurch based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. It has thirteen different locations around South Carolina and North Carolina. It is a member of the Association of Related Churches, a church-planting organization. Its senior pastor is Josh Surratt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Point Community Church</span> US evangelical church in Alpharetta, Georgia

North Point Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical megachurch located in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. North Point has an attendance of 23,000 people in eight locations in the north metro Atlanta area. The senior pastor Andy Stanley serves as the church's lead pastor and, in turn, leads the North Point Community Church staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodside Bible Church</span> Church in MI, United States

Woodside Bible Church is a non-denominational Christian megachurch based in Troy, Michigan. It is a multi-site church with 15 locations in the Detroit Metro area, with a total weekly attendance of over 9,000. The church is led by Pastor Chris Brooks, who has served as the church's senior pastor since May 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elevation Church</span> Church in North Carolina, United States

Elevation Church is an Evangelical non-denominational multi-site megachurch based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Weekly church attendance was 14,000 people in 2023. Elevation has 20 locations. Its senior pastors are Steven Furtick and Holly Furtick.

Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) is a non-denominational evangelical Christian multi-site megachurch based in Metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. The church has several campuses in Arizona. Weekend church attendance was 32,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherwood Baptist Church</span> Church in Georgia, USA

Sherwood Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Albany, Georgia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyline Church</span> Church in California , United States

Skyline Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in Rancho San Diego, California, affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination. The church currently averages 2,500 in attendance per week.

The Salem Baptist Church is a Baptist megachurch located at 752 E 114th Street in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The senior pastor is Charlie Dates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooklyn Tabernacle</span> Church in New York City, United States

Brooklyn Tabernacle is an evangelical non-denominational megachurch located at 17 Smith Street at the Fulton Mall in downtown Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The senior pastor is Jim Cymbala.

Centre Street Church is an evangelical Christian multi-site megachurch based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, affiliated with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC). Founded in 1958, it has an average weekly attendance of 7,739. In addition to its Central Campus, it has four satellite locations in the Calgary Metropolitan Region. Its senior pastor is Dr. Henry Schorr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Word of Life Bible Church</span> Church in Delta, Nigeria

Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) is a Pentecostal Christian megachurch located in Warri, Delta, Nigeria. It is one of the largest congregations in Nigeria, averaging about 30,000 attendees per week. The church now has congregations in over 70 locations worldwide. The senior pastor is Ayo Oritsejafor with his wife, Helen, who serves as co-pastor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church of Glenarden</span> Church in Maryland, United States

First Baptist Church of Glenarden International or FBCG is a Baptist Evangelical megachurch located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It is affiliated with Converge. Weekly church attendance was 12,000 people in 2022. The senior pastor is John K. Jenkins Sr.

References

  1. 1 2 Hartford Institute, Megachurches of Canada Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine , hartfordinstitute.org's website, USA, Retrieved November 12, 2017
  2. 1 2 "The MET". Parker Architects Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Casey, Donna (July 2007). "Met gets spirited away" (PDF). Ottawa Sun. Ottawa. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Brendan Kennedy (July 28, 2008). "Last service 'full to the rafters'". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  5. ↑ Admin, Bank’s Heritage: the churches, centretownbuzz.com, Canada, January 15, 2016
  6. ↑ Metropolitan Bible Church (October 12, 2014). "Your Invitation to Invest in God's Kingdom" . Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ McGregor, Anne (2000) "His Silver Cord of Faithfulness", Metropolitan Bible Church
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.