HISTORY OF FIRST-ST. ANDREW'S
Our Founder
Read Gavin McGregor's biography of the man who founded this church, the Rev. William Proudfoot, William Proudfoot...an Auld Acquaintance. Get a sense of the related timeline of events.
Read the commemorative history of St. Andrew's church, Almost a Century, published in1933.
Structural History
Although the current church has been in place over a century, it has gone through many transformations. Here is a list of the many milestones that have occurred.
1938 - Renovation of Sanctuary rebuilding and relocation of organ in chancel "pit" and pipes to chambers on either side of chancel to provide open chancel with east and west choir stalls facing each other removal of galleries on east and west side walls creation of centre aisle with new pews and chancel paneling on main floor
central pulpit replaced with present side pulpit and lectern installation of present stained glass windows in chancel.
1949 - War memorial stained glass windows dedicated
1955 - Sanctuary redecorated symbols for 12 Apostles, 4 Gospels, Alpha and Omega painted on ceiling, several stained glass memorial windows dedicated
1956 - Present Chapel and Christian Education Building dedicated after 1905 building was gutted and rebuilt
1969 - New Casavant Freres tracker organ installed in balcony of sanctuary and chancel redesigned
1974 - New Casavant Freres organ installed in Chapel
1975 - Ceiling symbols covered with drywall when some plaster fell
1982 - Extensive updating of Christian Education Building and kitchens
1995 - Access addition incorporating chapel and sanctuary entrances, an elevator and new washrooms, installed
1999 - Sanctuary refurbished and ceiling symbols replaced
2005 -" Lower Hall" refurbished and renamed "Proudfoot Hall
Our Ministerial Lineage
First Presbyterian ("United" after Church Union in 1925)
Rev. William Proudfoot: 1832-1851
Rev. Dr. J.A. Proudfoot: 1851-1889
Rev. Dr. William J. Clark: 1890-1907
Rev. Dr. John G. Inkster: 1907-1913
Rev. Dr. William J. Knox: 1913-1921
Col. The Rev. William Beattie: 1921-1933
Rev. Dr. Moir A.J. Waters: 1933-1937
St. Andrew's Presbyterian ("United" after Church Union in 1925)
Rev. Dr. John Scott: 1850-1875
Rev. James A. Murray: 1875-1894
Rev. Dr. Robert Johnston: 1895-1903
Rev. Dr. James Ross: 1903-1913
Rev. Dr. Donald C. MacGregor: 1914-1936
Rev. Dr. John Y. MacKinnon: 1936-1937
First-St. Andrew's United Church (as of January 1, 1938)
Rev. Dr. Moir A.J. Waters: 1938-1940
Rev. Dr. John Y. MacKinnon: 1938-1951
Rev. W.S. MacLeod: 1941-1942
Rev. D. M. Bishop: 1942-1946
Rev. O.P. Hossie: 1946-1947
Rev.G.A. Cowper-Smith: 1947-1949
Rev. J.S. Gibson: 1949-1958
The Very Rev. Angus J. MacQueen: 1951-1964
Rev. Dr. C.D. McLellan: 1958-1965
Rev. Alexander J. Farquhar: 1964-1980
Rev. Dr. G.B. Gray: 1965-1966
Rev. G. P. Cumming: 1966-1969
Rev. Dr. Moir A.J. Waters: 1969-1972
Rev. D. Parsons: 1971-1973
Rev. I.R. MacKay: 1974-1978
Rev. D.R. Carothers: 1978-1980
Rev. Anthony Gazzard: 1980-1989
Major The Rev. J. Piercey MacLean: 1981-1990
Rev. Dr. Frank Meadows: 1989-2000 (Minister Emeritus: 2006-2011)
Rev. Deborah Carter: 1990-1991
Rev. Catherine Moore: 1992-1998
Rev. Dr. Susan Shelstad: 1997-2011
Rev. Dr. David McKane: 2002-2010, Visitation Minister: 2017- 2021, Pastoral Charge Supervisor & Supply Minister 2020-2021 , Minister Emeritus: 2014-
Rev. Dr. Kate Crawford: 2010-2014
Rev. Tom Hiscock: 2013-2017
Rev. Michelle Down: 2015-2020
Rev. Dr. Joshua Lawrence: 2021-
During Dr. Alex Farquhar's time, 1964-1980, a promotional film for First-St. Andrew's was made. It tells much about the functions of the church and the numbers of the people involved at the time. Although the sound is quite muffled, it is worth a look into the past of this great London church.
If you're a serious history buff, you might want to check out the First-St. Andrew's Archive Collection at Western. Link here to get a listing of their FSA holdings.