Waverley Road Baptist Church

In 1891, a grocer named Philip Whitelock started a Sunday School program at his store at the corner of Queen and Kenilworth, in The Beach neighbourhood just east of Toronto (The store location is now Whitlock's restaurant). From this beginning a church started that was known as Kenilworth Avenue Baptist Church, and a church building was built across from the grocery store. The church emphasized trusting in Jesus for forgiveness of sin, and strong Bible teaching.Around 1909, the church relocated to the present facility on Waverley Road, and the old church building later became what is now the Beach Hebrew Institute. In 1924, a new Sunday School wing was added to the back of the church building. The church grew and flourished, with hundreds attending services each week, reaching its peak after the Second World War. Many congregation members served Canada honourably in both World Wars.