St. Andrews History
405 Victoria Avenue at Park Street West, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 4N1, Canada.
Phone: 519-252-6501
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Postcard dated 1907 (courtesy Andrew Foot)
The History Team of St. Andrew's has updated a history of our church in its second century. This book is now available. Please contact our church office.
In the 1840's there was a Presbyterian mission in Richmond (now Windsor - 1854). The first official congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was erected in 1857. Twenty-nine Presbyterians petitioned for their own congregation and St. Andrew's elected its first Session on July 12, 1857. It was, at that time, part of the Presbytery of London, in Canada West - three years after the incorporation of Windsor as a village, and ten years before Confederation.
In the early years, there was no church building. Services were held in a room above the store of John McCrae, the same room that was used as the council chambers by the municipal government until Windsor got its first town hall. With such a small congregation it was difficult to secure a permanent minister. The usual practice was to bring in someone from Detroit or a missionary to conduct services. The Rev. William Bennet was the first minister inducted serving from 1861-1863. The first building for St. Andrew's was erected in 1865 at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Chatham Street. In May of 1866 the Rev. Alexander Kemp was called as its second minister. Dr. Kemp was followed by the Rev. John Gray (1870-1893) during whose pastorate the congregation built a new church in 1883. Unfortunately, on Saturday March 16, 1895, that building burned to the ground. That precipitated the building of the current structure in 1895 with the first service held on June 14, 1896. Originally designed to seat 800, the balconies were added in 1903, allowing the seating of another 400 people. In 1915 the Rev. James C. Tolmie (1893-1915) resigned to go overseas with the Essex Fusilliers and the ministry was filled by the Rev. Dr. Hugh M. Paulin, who was to serve the congregation until his death in October, 1952. The Rev. Dr. William Lawson succeeded him (1953-1981) followed by the Rev. Dr. Robert Fourney (1982-1996). The Rev. Dr. Jeff Loach, is only the eighth inducted senior minister of the congregation, beginning his ministry in November of 1997. The Rev. Dr. Loach left in October of 2004. The Rev. Jennifer Cameron joined our team ministry in 2002. In 2007 Pastor Ronald Sharpe filled our call for a new minister.
An addition, comprised primarily of the Meeting Place and the Herman-Clark Hall, was completed in 1983, along with significant renovations to the offices and Sunday School rooms in the southern part of the building. (See pictures below)
Worship is at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School and Nursery at all normal services.
Though we are a downtown church, we seek to reach out to people all across Windsor and Essex County with the love of God. Our mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. In so doing, our goal is to be a caring church family, growing in Christ.
We welcome all to be part of our family.
More pictures of this historical building
