We’ve been part of the Kitchener-Waterloo community since 1854.

1854 – Persons of Scottish descent began to meet together in private homes in order to worship in the Church of Scotland format familiar to them.

1854 – As more people joined in the house worship, the little group needed a larger space and began to worship in the schoolhouse on the fire hall lot on Frederick Street.

1855 – The group worshiping in the school house petitioned the Presbytery of Hamilton to be established as a Presbyterian congregation. The petition, presented by The Rev. Dr. Smellie of Fergus, the Rev. James Young of Guelph, and Sheriff George Davidson of Berlin, was granted on Jan. 23, 1855.

1855 – Worship was conducted by the Rev. W. Pirie of Doon.

1856 – Sheriff George Davidson led the movement to erect a church building. He sold the congregation the parcel of land on the North East corner of Queen and Weber for a small sum and then led the fund raising campaign to erect a structure.

1857 – The first building was dedicated. It was a brick structure with a seating capacity of 175 built at a cost of $4,500. There is a photograph of the original building in the display case near the Weber Street doors.

1874 - A wooden “Sabbath School” building was erected behind the church. The corner stone for the “Sabbath School” building is visible near the Weber Street doors.

1907 – The congregation numbered 600 people. The original wooden building was torn down and replaced by the present brick sanctuary in order to accommodate the larger congregation. The present sanctuary was dedicated on September 8, 1907. The cost of the new building was $30,399. Two items were saved from the original wooden structure: the circular stained glass window, high on the west wall, and the wooden clock to the right of the pulpit. The window, which contains the words “He is not here; He is risen as he said,” is dedicated to Sheriff George Davidson. The Clock is dedicated to Sheriff Davidson and Mrs. Davidson.

1925 – On January 21, the congregation of St.Andrew’s voted against joining with Methodist and Congregational Churches to form the United Church of Canada.

1954 – Iona Hall was built at a cost of $260,000. It replaced the 80 year old Parish Hall and included an auditorium, Sunday School rooms, and office space.

1967 – An addition, costing $300,000, was added. It included the Covenant Chapel, additional classrooms, a library, church offices, and the Heather Room.

1974 – The Rev. Dr. Finlay Stewart retired after a remarkable ministry which saw St. Andrew’s rise up from near closure to becoming the largest Presbyterian Congregation in Canada.

1975 – The Rev. Dr. Grant MacDonald was called as minister of St. Andrew’s. Grant was baptized and raised within St. Andrew’s and had already been an Assistant minister since 1965. Grant Retired in 1999.

2000 – The Rev. William (Bill) Lamont was called to be Minister of St. Andrew’s. In 2004, Bill left St. Andrew’s along with Associate Ministers William Johnston and Colleen Smith. The Rev. Dr. Vern Tozer served for 18 months as an Interim-Minister from 2004 to 2006.

2006 – The Rev. Mark Lewis, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, was called to be Minister of St. Andrew’s

2008 – The Rev. Janice Hamalainen was called to be the Minister of Pastoral Care at St. Andrew’s.

From 2008 to 2013, the buildings of St. Andrew’s were extensively renovated in preparation for future growth and vitality. The renovations included repainting and renovation of all exterior brickwork, extensive roof repair, new windows, a new high efficiency boiler, a complete renovation of the beautiful historical plaster work in the sanctuary, and the restoration of many other rooms and facilities.

2014 – St. Andrew’s celebrated its 160th Anniversary with thanks and praise to God.

St. Andrew’s continues to be an inclusive community enthusiastically dedicated to mission locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Sanctuary was built in the round and with a balcony to allow as many people as possible to be close to the preacher. There was no P.A. system back in 1906!

The Burning Bush is the unofficial symbol of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It is a symbol of God’s call to faith and service. The Latin motto beneath the burning bush is “Nec Tamen Consumebatur” meaning “And yet it was not consumed.”

The round window above the exposed silver organ pipes is from the original 1857 wooden building. The congregation was established in 1855 from a group which first met in 1854. The window is dedicated to Sheriff George Davidson (See history notes.)

The clock above the piano is also from the original wooden building. The clock is dedicated to Sheriff George Davidson and Mrs. Davidson.

The baptismal font is from the original church.

The flags displayed in the sanctuary are from the WWII Scots Fusiliers of Canada (over the piano) and the WWI 118th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (over the exposed silver organ pipes.) We wish we could restore the flags, but it is governmental and military protocol that historic military colours be left to decay on their standards until they cease to exist.

The sanctuary can seat 650 people.

Most of the windows have dedication plaques and inscriptions which are quite helpful.

We broadcast our worship live on CTV every other Sunday. We have been broadcasting since 1961.

William Lyon Mackenzie King (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950), Canada’s 10th and longest-serving Prime Minister, attended St. Andrew’s (We are not responsible for his spiritualistic tendencies but we think it might be his ghost which haunts the balcony.)

King was a lifelong Presbyterian who promoted the Social Gospel (Justice for the poor.) King served as Prime Minister from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; September 25, 1926 to August 6, 1930; and October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in the British Commonwealth history.

Just before Jesus went to be with His Father in heaven, He commanded His disciples to go into all corners of the world to bring the knowledge of the love God has for His creations. This is referred to as the great commission and the followers of Jesus went out and did just that.

Now, keep in mind that the majority of Jesus' first followers were Jews who believed Jesus was the long-awaited Jewish messiah. We are always respectful of the fact that Jesus was a Jew and that salvation comes from the Jews. There came a point in the first century when it was clear that the traditional Jewish leaders did not accept Jesus and therefore the Christian faith became a separate entity from the Jewish faith. Early Christians often found themselves in conflict with the established Jewish church.

The Roman Empire was also a problem for the early Christians who protested the cruel games and dubious entertainment offered by the coliseum in Rome. This and the fact that they refused to worship the emperor as divine led to their persecution and slaughter at the hands of the Romans. The life of a Christian in those early churches was not easy, but still they clung to their faith.

A church in those days was started when a follower of Christ went to a new city and started helping people and preaching the words of Jesus. After he explained as much of the teachings as he could, baptized the people who were moved to join, he would move on to the next city and start the process over again. Paul was one of the most prolific evangelists and took the gospel to all people, even non-Jews. He kept in contact to the new churches with letters that now make up most of the latter parts of the New Testament. These letters examine much of the theology of our faith, lay the groundwork for the growth of the early church, and still offer good advice to Christians today.

The Roman Catholic Church

In 313 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and with his conversion finally made Christianity a legitimate religion in the eyes of the Roman Empire. Because of the influence of the church in Rome and the fact that Rome was the center of roads and other infrastructure, the western churches began to centralize there. The churches in Greece and other eastern areas still preferred a loose confederation, as was created originally by Paul, rather than a centralized control that developed over time with Roman influence. In 1054 AD, this led to the first split in the ranks of Christianity and The Roman Catholic Church separated from the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

The spread of Christianity continued through the dark ages after the fall of the Roman Empire. By the early 14th century, the Church in Rome had established its power in what eventually became the Europe we know today. There were forces at work in the world at that time and they began to exert pressure on the Roman Catholic Church. The beginning of the renaissance, the establishment of more stable governments, the dawning of the modern age of science and reason, and most importantly, the invention of the printing press, all took their toll on the traditions of the then tradition bound church.

The Reformation

Many Catholics have wanted to change their church's doctrines at different times. Starting in the 14th century some started questioning the assumptions regarding the church itself, salvation, and man's relationship to God. The Roman Catholic Church usually branded the questioner as a heretic, forced them out of the Church and very little actually got changed. By the 16th century, some reformers had given up trying to change the Roman Catholic Church from within. They left and started their own churches. In France, members of these churches were called "protesters" because the refused to accept the Roman Catholic Church as the only valid Christian church. This is how the Protestant churches got their name.

At that time the Roman Catholic Church held both scripture and tradition as the rule of faith. They controlled the tradition, and the scripture was only available in Latin Vulgate, a language not spoken by many people in that time outside of church officials and read by even fewer. It was also not allowed for the Bible to be read by anyone who was not a member of the clergy. This forced everyone who wanted to be a Christian to have to deal with the Roman Catholic Church for salvation. The sacraments, like baptism and communion, were only available to people the church allowed in. Protestant reformers had one goal: The scripture, as canonized in the Bible in the early 4th century, was to be the only rule of faith. They did not want to bend their knee to humans to kneel to God. And they wanted everyone to have access to the scripture.

In 1382, the first bible was translated to English. And the Roman Catholic Church condemned Wycliffe, a vicar and scholar who translated it, as a heretic. In 1517, Martin Luther, a German Catholic tired of trying to change the Catholic Church from within, hammered his "95 Theses" to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany and officially began the modern Reformer movement. He denounced the pretensions of authority of the Pope in Rome and promoted a person’s direct relationship with God without the need for Church intercession. And by 1525, Tyndale, an Oxford scholar translated the bible from Greek and Hebrew and began printing it in German exile.

By the 16th century the momentum of the various reformers and the widespread use of the printing press toppled the Roman Catholic Church's control. In 1534, the Anglican Church, or the Church of England as it is also known, broke with the Roman Catholic Church over papal jurisdiction and control. The Roman Catholic Church translated the bible in 1582 to English as a response to English protestants, but it was too little too late. In 1611, King James ordered the official Anglican English translation of the Bible. This King James Version of the Bible was the first widely available translation of the Bible and is still in use today as one of the most popular translations.

John Calvin, a contemporary of Martin Luther, converted to Protestantism in 1533. His biblical interpretation influenced many early protestant theologians and founded Presbyterianism. He focused on the canonized Bible as a revelation of God. He emphasized theology, worship, education, thrift, and ethical behavior. Most importantly, he favored a representational government for his followers' church organization. He wanted the lay person to have a legitimate role in the official functions of the church. The name Presbyterian comes from the Greek word "Presbuteros" which means elder and refers to the practice of electing elders to work with the clergy to guide the church.

One of his students, Scottish Protestant John Knox, went back to Scotland after his exile and in 1559 established the Presbyterian Church there. It found fertile soil, and between 1643 and 1649 the "Westminster Assembly" of 151 Presbyterians met in England to write the doctrinal guidelines that modern Presbyterians still use today.

The first Presbyterians in Canada were French Huguenots who settled in Newfoundland as fishermen and Quebec as fur-traders as early as 1541. These colonies did not survive. Presbyterian congregations were founded in Nova Scotia in the early part of the 18th century.

When America was being colonized many Protestants left Europe and England to escape persecution at the hands of more established Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. In 1706, the first Presbytery was established in Philadelphia. By the time of the revolution, there were so many Presbyterians in the colonies the British sometimes referred to the American Revolution as the "Presbyterian Revolt". Of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, 14 were Presbyterian, including the only clergyman to sign it, Reverend John Witherspoon. And it was the Presbyterian’s form of church government (Representative Democracy) that was used as a model for the American Constitution.

The basic form of Presbyterian Organization is a Representative Democracy. That is not to say that the church is a democracy, but that through the process of debate and democratic voting we seek to discern the mind of Christ. It has four basic levels above the congregation. The first is the Session. This is an elected group of Elders from the congregation of the church, plus the clergy (ministers of the Word). This group makes decisions for the congregation of a church and supervises the deacons and trustees. The next higher court is called the Presbytery and is a geographically organized group of churches. This might cover only a large city or a county or several counties. This group helps churches help each other, run programs too large for individual churches, and helps coordinate inter-church activities. They also elect representatives to the next level called the Synod. Synods address the concerns of several Presbyteries' and elect people to represent their views to the General Assembly. The General Assembly makes policy decisions about the functioning of the whole denomination and is made up of equal numbers of clergy and laypeople.

Presbyterians don't have a strict set of beliefs which unite Presbyterians or separates them from other followers of Christ. Presbyterians believe in:

• God the father, creator of the universe

• Jesus, the incarnation of God on the earth

• Holy Spirit, the presence of God in the world and in the believer

• The Church, a universal company of Christ's followers

• Forgiveness of Sins, made possible by the crucifixion of Christ

• Life Everlasting, shown by the resurrection of Jesus

• The Bible, as the inspired word of God.

The Bible as the inspired word of God is a hallmark of many Protestant religions. Presbyterians have always believed the Bible is the most authoritative source for faith, but it does not believe the authors of the bible were "pens of God" as many of the early Christians believed. We believe they were inspired by God to reveal his presence to all people, but they did so in their own words and in with the influence of their times.

One way this is illustrated is in the issue of female clergy. Many denominations believe that women should not hold positions as clergy based on the opinions in expressed in the Bible. Presbyterians embrace the contributions of women in our church both as elders (lay persons) and as ministers of the Word (clergy).

Some churches hand down doctrine and simply expect its members to accept it. Being a Presbyterian puts more emphases on personal freedom and responsibility. Every Presbyterian must find a personal set of beliefs through contemplation and worship. For example, in some denominations taking steps to prevent pregnancy is not allowed, but as a Presbyterian, we recognize there is nothing in the church's teachings which discourages intelligent, unselfish family planning. But at the same time, that opinion is not forced on our members either. We also believe that no Christian church has exclusive possession of the church government authorized by Christ. We therefore do not claim that being a Presbyterian is the only way to achieve salvation. Presbyterians also believe the Holy Spirit heightens truth, and thus admit different understandings of the Confession of Faith. Finally, we also believe that a church never reaches a "reformed" state. It is always in a state of reformation and needs to be open to the power of the Holy Spirit for change.

Presbyterians also follow a stated, though not strict liturgy in our church services. One feature of many Presbyterian Church services is reading together and aloud different creeds and confessions. These are statements of doctrine which express the beliefs of a church or congregation. The recitation involves the whole congregation in the act of worship and helps reinforce our common beliefs.

Presbyterians follow only two biblically based Sacraments. The Sacrament of Baptism unites us with Jesus and makes us members of God's family, the church. The particulars of the baptism, whether full immersion or a symbolic sprinkling, are not important. It is only important that it occurred under the guiding hand of a Christian Church. Baptism is not a guarantee to Heaven, nor do we believe its lack denies someone salvation. It is the initiation into a church community, a public confession of our sinful state and shows our willingness to make Jesus and His teachings a part of our lives.

The Sacrament of Communion, also called the Lord's supper or Eucharist, is a time to renew faith and focus on the responsibilities and gifts we have as Christians. The elements, the bread and wine, represent the sacrifice that Jesus willingly made for all sinners. Together, they represent the new covenant God has made with his children. Any member in good standing in any Christian church is welcome to participate in communion.

So, what does it mean to me to be a Presbyterian? It means I am a Christian in service to my church and my community. I willingly give my time and money to support my church. It means that I try to set an example in my actions that is worthy of Christ's sacrifice. And finally, it means that I have an obligation to help anyone I can, in any way I can when they are in need.

Stephen Ministry at St. Andrew’s between 1994-2020

Stephen Ministers are lay members of the congregation trained to provide one-on-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life.

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life and share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.

The training for a Stephen Minister is a Christ-centered experience equipping them with essential caring and relating skills. Training includes how to listen to, care for, and walk with those goingthrough difficult times in life.

After being matched with a person who is experiencing a life crisis, a Stephen Minister then meets with that individual on a regular basis to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. Those caring relationships last as long as the need for care exists.

Stephen Ministry was a ministry program of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church from 1994 until 2020. During that time 59 members were trained to be Stephen Ministers, 2 transferred in from other churches, and 14 were trained as Stephen Leaders. This includes three Stephen Leaders trained but who did not have the opportunity to lead a course; namely, Bruce Hymmen, Rev. Greg Smith, and Sheree Anderson.

In 2013, two members of Woodside Bible Fellowship in Elmira joined the training group. The training equipped our Stephen Ministers to provide high-quality care to individuals who were broken and hurting. Numerous lives were touched with compassionate understanding, Christ-centered care, and encouragement.

Hanging in the sanctuary is a beautiful banner depicting the Stephen Ministry logo which represents a care receiver’s journey from brokenness toward wholeness through the cross of Jesus. In this way, it illustrates the Stephen Ministry motto which is “Christ caring for people through people.”

This banner was created by the exceptionally talented Renee Biewenga-Hyams, a member of St. Andrew’s.

Class of 1993-1994

Pauline Becker, Lucille Bonner, Darleen Clay, Helen Dahms, Sharon

Foster, Hazel Hislop, Ann Martin, Dawna McGee, lan McGee, Colin

McKay, Karen Redman, Kristy Todd

Leaders: John Kurtz and Florence Reed

Class of 1995-1996

Lynn Becker, Elaine Brunk, Nora Burns, Helen Cleghorn, Fred Creed,

Linda Creed, Bev Finlayson, Brian Finlayson, Jennie Kalbfleisch, John

Lambert, Marilyn McMillan, Janet Panabaker, Irma Switzer

Leaders: Lois Kurtz and Sylvia Stewart

Class of 1996-1997

Wincky Brandt, Sandy Dessler, Kathy Enstone, Vera Mortimer, Paul Neeb,

Susan Neeb, Jean Rechsteiner, Shirley Redeker, Richard Todd

Leaders: Lois Kurtz and Sylvia Stewart

Class of 1998-1999

Carol Elliot, Andrea Johnston, Ginny Scott, Gloria St. Marie

Transfer: Sharon Hendry

Leaders: Lois Kurtz and Sylvia Stewart

Class of 2000-2001

Joan DeVille, Wendie Kirk, Margaret Ann Munoz, Sandra Sproul

Leaders: Bill Johnston, Sunday Hamilton and John Frey

Class of 2002-2003

Harold Ball, Pat Ball, Shirley Couillard, Allen Stouffer

Transfer: Janet MacDowell

Leaders: Bill Johnston, Margaret Munoz and Wendie Kirk

Class of 2009

Sylvia DeSchiffart, Yolanda Grant, Bruce Hymmen

Leader: Janice Hamalainen

Class of 2011

Debbie Johnson, Bev Middlemass and Margie Warren

Leaders: Janice Hamalainen and Janet MacDowell

Class of 2013

Janet Hahn, Mark Johnson and Peggy McLellan ...plus 2 from Woodside

Bible Fellowship in Elmira

Leaders: Janice Hamalainen and Janet MacDowell

Class of 2015

Heather Ingram-Smith, Cathy McConnell, Karen Teeter, Josie Tinholt

Leaders: Janice Hamalainen (first ½) and Janet MacDowell

Handbells have been a part of the music program at St. Andrew’s for many years. The church presently owns a beautiful three-octave set of Malmark bells. The bells were originally made available through a generous donation by Marianne Sanders, a long-time member of the congregation and supporter of the bell choir.