1818: A congregation was first collected at Lachine in the year 1818 through the labours of
Rev. Hugh Kirkland, a young minister who came from Ireland in that year. He was inducted
to the charge in January 1818 and left in May of the following year for the United States.
(Per a history of the Presbyterian Church in Canada by Mr. James Croil, quoted in ref 1.)
1818, Jul 25: A Civil Registry book was presented by the Rev'd Hugh Kirkland A.M.V.D.M.
Parish of St. Michel Lower Canada, Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation of Lachine,
to the congregation.
1818, Aug 2: First baptism by Rev Hugh Kirkland, of James Watts, son of John & Margaret
Watts.
1822-1831: Ministers of St. Gabriel Church, Montreal, looked after the congregation of
Lachine.
1832: The parcel of land for the church and manse was presented to the St. Andrew's
Scotch Presbyterian Congregation by Mr. Robert Grant and Mr. Charles Grant. The
foundation stone of the church was laid on 9 June 1832 and the building completed in
September. The first minister was Rev. Alexander Gale
1832: A Minute by Rev Alex Gale indicates that Lachine and Chateauguay were one
pastoral charge.
1833: The first Elders of St. Andrew's were appointed: Dr. James Campbell, Donald Duff
and John Fraser.
1836, Mar 20: The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time in the
new building to 50 communicants. The officiating minister was Rev John Taylor, and Dr.
James Campbell, Messrs Duff and Fraser, along with Mr. Mathews Elder of St. Andrew's
Church Montreal doing the duties of the eldership.
1850: Two hundred and eighty-seven souls were connected with the congregation in 1850.
1853, Sep 11: St. Andrew's Minutes of Session complain about the difficulty in finding men willing to serve
as elders.
1861, Feb 4: St. Andrew's Session appointed Mr. John Taylor precentor, to correct "the unsatisactory way
in which the singing has been conducted for some months past owing to the want of a stated
precentor".
1863, Mar 8: St. Andrew's Session agreed to pay Mr. John Taylor ten pounds per annum for services as
precentor.
1864: A St. Andrew's vote was held regarding purchase of a musical instrument. A protest
arose and Session cancelled the idea.
1873: A representation to the St. Andrew's Session was made to canvas the congregation for funds for a new
instrument to replace the melodion which was experiencing expensive repair bills.
1876: Rev. Wm. Simpson retired after 32 years as St. Andrew's Minister. His active ministry closed with
the union of the Presbyterian Churches in Canada, a movement against which he was an
unyielding opponent.
1876: Rev. Donald Ross, B.D. of Chatham & Grenville having received a unanimous call
from the Congregation of St. Andrew's Church Lachine, was inducted on the 10th Oct. 1876.
(This is the first mention in reference 1 of St. Andrew's as the name of the congregation.)
1890: A photo published in the Montreal Gazette 18 Dec 2011, on the occasion of
the last service of St. Andrew's United Church, shows the
church with its cemetery in 1890.
(Rev. 2012/02/13)
1894: Mr. Alex Bissett was appointed St. Andrew's organist (when the organ was acquired is not noted.)
1907: Summerlea Presbyterian mission moved to a building on 51st Avenue (now the site
of the Summerlea manse).
The photo was taken in the 1940's.
Rev. 2012/02/13: The Summerlea manse has been sold. Summerlea no longer has a minister's manse.
1907: Grace Methodist was built on Lakeshore Road (St. Joseph) at 11th Avenue.
The former Grace Church being prepared for demolition in January 2005.
1908: Extensive alterations and repairs were made to the St. Andrew's church building,
the old square pews being removed and the present pews installed.
The sketch below is thought to depict the renovated church - the caption reads:
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church: Come with us to a church service about 1840. Here the
Reverend Robert McGill is delivering an earnest sermon. Under his leadership the building
was erected in 1831; pulpit, sounding-board and stairs, all of black walnut, were added a few
years later. Below the pulpit sits the precentor at his special desk, ready to lead the
responses and begin hymns on the proper note. Each family pays an annual rent for its own
box pew. In the gallery sit the poorer families and those who were servants. This fine church,
faithfully restored in 1937, is today very little changed from its original appearance.
The remark about little change in the 1937 restoration raises questions, because the 1917
minutes mention installation of a "handsome new organ".
1914: Although the 1918 St. Andrew's historical sketch makes no mention of a Summerlea mission congregation
in western Lachine, two ledgers in the Summerlea United (formerly Presbyterian) church
office are inscribed,
"Presented by the Session of St. Andrew's Church, Lachine, to the Presbyterian
congregation of Summerlea, on the occasion of their severance from St. Andrew's Church.
dated December 21st, 1914."
1917: The St. Andrew's minutes included a note re the installation of a handsome new pipe
organ. Perhaps the photo below depicts the revised configuration. Note that the gallery and
box pews are gone.
1918: One hundredth anniversary of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Lachine.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian One Hundredth Anniversary Bulletin Cover
1925: St. Andrew's Presbyterian, 15th Avenue, became St. Andrew's United.
St. Andrew's United photos taken January 2005.
1952: Dedication of the new Summerlea United Church, 225 50th Avenue, Lachine.
Summerlea United, Lachine - Sketch by Hazel M. Taylor
1971: Grace United (originally Methodist) Church closed and members joined Summerlea.
Grace Chapel commemorates the Grace congregation.
The following notes are taken from Reference 2.
1955: The St. Andrew's Presbyterian Congregation purchased 25,000 sq. ft. of land on the
present site of 5065 Sherbrooke St. with the first sod turned by the Very Rev. Malcolm A. Campbell on Sunday
29 July 1956, and the building dedicated on Friday 5 April 1957.
In 1995 the Congregation was presented with a call that would test its commitment to the
Gospel of Justice. The Congregation stood up to the institution of the Presbyterian Church
in Canada and in June 1997 made the difficult decision of severing tires with the PCC. On
15 February 1999 a special service took place to celebrate and bless the brave stand of the
Congregation and the ministry of their pastor, Rev. Darryl Macdonald. 40 Clergy and
members of other congregations numbering 400, both local and national, laid hands on the
Congregation of St. Andrew's and their minister.
With the mounting costs of maintenance, and the desire to continue our ministry, we were
faced with another difficult decision. We decided to leave our home of 44 years and move in
with our neighbours at Summerlea United. We look forward to creating new memories,
forging strong relationships and living as God's disciples.
Between 1957 and 2005 St. Andrew's has been faithfully served by Rev. J.A. Crabb
1957-1969, Rev. R.D. Currie 1969-1973, Rev. John A Bodkin 1974-1981, Rev. Sheina B.
Smith 1982-1992, Gordon Ritchie and Andrew Scott (Pastoral team during vacancy)
1992-1994, Rev. Darryl Macdonald 1995-2005. We also owe our thanks to Rev. Glynis
Williams for her hard and inspirational work as Interim Moderator from 1992-1996. We also
acknowledge the many students for Ministry who passed through these doors.
The former St. Andrew's Presbyterian, 5065 Sherbrooke, January 2005.
Now the Norwegian Church and Cultural Centre.
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