Brief History of St. Andrew's Church, Kitchener

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, KITCHENER
A BRIEF HISTORY

January 23, 1855	St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was founded. The man largely responsible for the founding was George Davidson, Waterloo County's first Sheriff. It was the first Presbyterian Church in our area.
1857	The original church was built on the present site. It seated 175 people and was slightly larger than our present chapel. The cost was $4500.
March 5, 1857	Reverend A. Constable Geikie was inducted as the first minister.
1874	A separate Sunday School building was built, facing Weber Street.
October 10 1906	The cornerstone was laid for a new church building which cost $30,399. The price included a new organ and furnishings. The old church was torn down to make way for the larger structure.
September 8 1907	Formal opening of the new church. Two items retained from the original church which are still present are the circular stained glass window high up on the west wall of the sanctuary and the clock to the right of the pulpit. This clock was a gift in memory of Sheriff Davidson presented by his wife in 1886. The window "He Is Not Here; He Is Risen As He Said" is also in memory of Sheriff & Mrs. Davidson.
January 21 1925	A fateful day. The members of St. Andrew's Church voted to remain a Presbyterian Church and not to join the new United Church composed of Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian congregations.
March 13 1938	Reverend Finlay G. Stewart held his first communion service.
1954	Iona Hall was built at a cost of $260,000. It replaced the eighty year old Parish Hall and included an auditorium, modern church school facilities and the church offices.
1955	A banner year. St. Andrew's became the largest Presbyterian congregation in Canada with a membership of 1900.
May, 1958	Reverend Chester Lewis became Dr. Stewart's assistant minister. He resigned in 1965 but continued on a part time basis until 1981, then took a charge in Cape Breton Island.
August, 1965	Rev. Grant R. MacDonald became assistant minister, and on November 4, 1967, became associate minister.
September 15 1967	An addition, costing $300,000 was added to the Queen Street property. It housed Covenant Chapel, additional church school space, library, church offices, and new meeting facilities (Heather Room) for organizations.
1968	St. Andrew's Community Day Care opened, serving children of working parents until December 1992.
December31,1974	Reverend Doctor Finlay G. Stewart retired after serving St. Andrew's for thirty-eight years. During his time as senior minister Dr. Stewart received two distinctive honours. In 1970 he was nominated as Kitchener's Citizen of the Year; and in 1972 he received a L.L.D., Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from the University of Waterloo. Dr. Stewart was lauded in the community for his service to the field of education, social service, military service (1940-1945), and communications. He was named Minister Emeritus in 1975.
January 1 1975	Reverend Grant R. MacDonald was named senior minister.
1976 - 1978	Rev. John Rhoad was assistant minister.
1978	Rev. John Henderson began a two-year term as assistant minister.
1979	St. Andrew's and the City of Kitchener both celebrated their 125th Anniversary.
1980 - 1982	Rev. Rod Ferguson was assistant minister.
October, 1982	Rev. Dr. Jesse Bigelow was minister of visitation until July 1985.
August, 1983	Rev. Chester Lewis returned as assistant minister - visitation, and continued in this position until 1991. Rev. Noble Dean was associate minister 1983- 1985.
September, 1986	Rev. William Johnston began a three year term as associate minister.
1988	Covenant '88, a successful fund-raising campaign was undertaken to have an elevator and wheelchair ramp to increase accessibility; to renovate the Weber St. entrance; to provide climate control for the sanctuary; resolve the church spire problems and fulfil a commitment to the new Kitchener East congregation.
October 29 1989	Celebration of St. Andrew's 135th anniversary and formal dedication of new church facilities carried out in Covenant '88.
October 26 1990	Celebration of Dr. MacDonald's 25 years of service.
1991	Vision '90 mission adopted.
October, 1991	Rev. John E. Kurtz becomes minister of pastoral care.
November, 1991	Rev. William G. Lamont becomes Associate Minister.
October, 1992	Celebration of Douglas Haas' 25th year as Director of Music.
January 29 1993	St. Andrew's mourns the death of Dr. Finlay G. Stewart.
December, 1995	St. Andrew's went on-line with the launch of its web site.
May, 1997	Lighting installed for St. Andrew's Steeple.
November, 1997	Vision for the New Millenium Statement adopted by Session.
June , 1999	St. Andrew's hosted the 125th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
June 15, 1999	Rev. William Johnston began a second term as Associate Minister - Pastoral Counseling.
June 20, 1999	Rev. Dr. Grant MacDonald delivers his final sermon as Senior Minister, . . . after 34 years of service!
May 7, 2000	Rev. William G. Lamont inducted as Senior Minister.
October, 2000	Rev. John E. Kurtz retires as Minister of Pastoral Care.
March 24, 2002	Rev. Colleen Smith began a three year term as Associate Minister - Christian Education.
2004	150th Anniversary Celebrations including preparations for the consruction of the Garden of St. Andrew.
August, 2004	The Casavant organ in the Sanctuary was renovated from its original 1947 technology.
October, 2004	The ministry team of Rev. William G. Lamont, Rev. William Johnston, and Rev. Colleen Smith were dismissed by a presbytery-appointed commission. Lay staff member Susan Shane, coordinator of congregational ministries, was also dismissed but stayed on staff until 2005. Rev. Vernon Tozer was appointed interim minister.
May 7, 2006	Rev. Mark Lewis was inducted as Minister.
February 10, 2008	Rev. Janice Hamalainen was inducted as Minister of Pastoral Care.

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