New Plymouth's first Baptist Church (or Chapel as it was first known as) was erected on the corner of Liardet and Gill Streets in 1868. A brief report in the Taranaki Daily News on 27 March 1913 suggests Mr Taylor was the architect and builder.
The foundation stone was laid on 11 March 1868 by the Rev John Whiteley. It was followed by a collection to raise funds for the chapel.
As the congregation grew it was decided that a larger building was needed and in 1913 the Baptist Tabernacle was built on the corner of Liardet and Lemon Street. This chapel was later sold and at some stage was turned 90 degrees.
This original church remained on the corner site (even being used as part of a service station and later the offices of a rental car firm) until it was finally demolished in the 1980s.
Town Section 863, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 pages 133 & 134.
Related documents and plans:
Historical Record of the New Plymouth Baptist Church 1860-1977, S. Ogle (Taranaki Research Centre Information Files)
Gill Street Baptist Church History, Margaret Brooker (Puke Ariki collection ARC2009-166)
Auction of historic site (Taranaki Herald 2 June 1976)
Taranaki DP3212 Sheet 1 Subdivision of Town Section 863 (1913), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP4460 Sheet 1 Subdivision of Section 863 (1924), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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