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Walking Tour of Kitchener's St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

Built in 1907, the large size of the sanctuary seems to reflect a strong anddetermined optimism. The church was experiencing a rapid membership growth andLaurier's Canada was bright and prosperous.

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Several features, typical of a large Protestant city church are apparent.Concentric curved pews reflect the Protestant attitude that all people shouldbe able to hear the words of the minister and see all the acts of worship. Thearrangement also facilitates the individual serving of Communion to members ofthe congregation sitting in their pews rather than going forward to a Communionrail. Main level pews are original to the building.

Galleries were part ofboth Puritan and German Protestant traditions and were built so that as manypeople as possible could be as close as possible to pulpit sermons. In thisbuilding, the gallery seats were once folded wooden theatre seats. The presentgallery pews and floor were installed in 1959.

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Although constructed as recently as 1947, the church front consisting of theimpressive church organ (a four manual Casavant) the display of large organpipes, and the choir loft facing the congregation reflects a style ofProtestant practice popular since the nineteenth century, compensating for theprohibition of music in earlier Protestant traditions. The positiv' or echoorgan seen on the left sanctuary wall was added in 1963.

Notice also the elevated pulpit (right side) the reading desks and the frontcentre location of the Communion Table.

Two pieces from the previous church building (dedicated in 1857) can still be seen.They are the wall clock presented in memory of church founder Sheriff GeorgeDavidson, and a small round window seen at the top left hand side of thesanctuary.

The insignia of Presbyterian tradition is depicted by the burning bush Mosesexperienced. The fact that the bush was not consumed is noted in Latin. Canyou locate these? The links with Scotland can be seen by the national flag ofScotland, various Celtic Cross emblems and a stone coming from the island ofIona.

Links with military tradition are represented by two cased sets of battle flagshanging from the sanctuary walls. When a military unit ceases to function, itscolours or battle flags are placed in a church for permanent safekeeping. In1940, an elaborate parade arrived one Sunday during the church service andpresented the colours of the 118th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, toSt. Andrew's. Years later, in 1972, when their military successors, the ScotsFusiliers were about to be merged with the Highland Light Infantry of Galt,another ceremony took place and St. Andrew's received the colours once again.

The importance of Sunday School (or Church School) is recognized by the 1874cornerstone of the original Sunday School, placed in the wall close to theWeber St. entrance. Inside the church, a stained glass window entitled "TheHoly Family" is a memorial to Sunday School teachers. A plaque lists the namesof long standing Church School Superintendents. The Stephen Ministry Banner,placed in the Sanctuary in 1994 recognizes the Stephen Ministry, a specializedChristian care program, administered by laity members of the congregation.

On all sides, the beautiful stained glass windows - memorials to various familymembers - can be viewed. Some originate from the 1906-1907 era. There areMcCausland windows and older windows have darker yellow and orange colours.

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