St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Kingston, Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Kingston, Ontario) |
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St. Andrew's Church in Kingston, Ontario
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| Denomination | Presbyterian Church |
| Website | http://www.StAndrewsKingston.org |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Andrew |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ontario |
| Diocese | Presbyterian Diocese of Ontario |
| Province | Canada |
St. Andrew's Church is a Presbyterian Church in Kingston, Ontario. The church opened for service in 1822. St. Andrew's was a very important place for the Presbyterian faith in early Canada, especially in a region called Upper Canada. The church also played a big part in starting Queen's University.
Contents
A Look Back at St. Andrew's History
Building the First Church
The first St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was built in the 1830s. It was located on Princess Street at Clergy Street in Kingston. People who built it included United Empire Loyalists and Scottish immigrants. Loyalists were people who stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. Scottish immigrants were people who moved from Scotland.
This church was the first stone church in Kingston. Over time, it was changed to look more like Italian buildings. The first minister chosen for this church was Reverend John Barclay from Scotland.
Starting a Canadian Church Group
Before 1831, Presbyterian churches in Canada did not have a main group to lead them. But many people wanted to create one. On June 9, 1831, St. Andrew's Church hosted a big meeting. Ministers and elders from four church areas came together.
From this meeting, a new group was formed. It was called "The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada". This group was connected to the Church of Scotland. Today, this group is known as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Helping to Create Queen's University
In 1839, people realized there was a need for a school in Kingston. This school would train Presbyterian ministers. So, a plan was made at St. Andrew's Church to start a university. This led to the founding of Queen's University. Today, Queen's University is one of the top universities in Canada.
A young lawyer named John Macdonald supported this plan. He was a member of the church. This same John Macdonald later became Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister.
The people of St. Andrew's Church also helped Queen's University when it had money problems. The second minister of St. Andrew's, Reverend John Machar, even worked as the university's president for seven years without pay. In 1912, the church and university officially separated. However, many traditions at Queen's still show its Scottish Presbyterian roots.
The Fire and Rebuilding
On April 8, 1888, a fire started by the church furnace. The fire burned the building to the ground. Only the thick stone walls were left standing. These walls were so strong that they had to be blown up. This made space for the new church to be built.
The church building you see today was rebuilt in 1889. It has an impressive and beautiful main worship area.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
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St. Andrew's Church has many amazing stained glass windows. Many of these windows were made when the second church was built. They were created by a company called Castle and Sons from Montreal. Many windows were made to remember important church members.
One window shows the crest of the Royal Military College of Canada. It has a Latin phrase that means 'It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country'. This window was paid for by former students and friends of the college. Another window nearby remembers soldiers from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. It honors those who died in World War I.
The large window on the south side was paid for by the women's group of the church. This window shows a story about Saint Andrew from the Bible. In this story, some Greeks ask Andrew and Phillip if they can meet Jesus.
In 1967, a smaller chapel was added to the back of the church. This chapel has nine stained glass windows. They show different parts of Jesus's life and actions.
St. Andrew's Church Today
St. Andrew's Church stands in the middle of downtown Kingston, Ontario. Today, about 100 to 150 people attend the church. St. Andrew's is very active in the Kingston community.
One great example of the church's community work is the Special Meals program. This program started in January 1987 and is still running. Special Meals is a volunteer program that provides food for people in need every Sunday.
In the summer of 2009, St. Andrew's asked the government for money. They wanted to start a tour guide program at the church. This program has been very popular. In 2009, almost 1,000 people visited. In 2010, 1,732 visitors came. Tours also ran in 2011 and 2012, bringing in 1,371 and 1,908 visitors.
