The Rev. Alexander Dunn from Scotland arrived here in 1886 and became Alberni’s first resident missionary. He conducted worship services in the log homes of the pioneers. In 1887 two one-room schools were built and they became churches on Sundays with Rev. Dunn preaching. He left Alberni in 1889 to go to the Fraser Valley.
In 1892 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (a new building) was erected at the corner of Johnston Road and Elizabeth Street. In 1906 St. Andrew’s began mission work in what is known as Southport. Services were held in the schoolhouse on the corner of Third Avenue and Angus Street.
In 1910 the first Knox Presbyterian Church was built on the corner of Montrose Street and Fourth Avenue. A congregation was organized and supplied by student ministers until the formal opening on November 25, 1912.
In 1914 a new St. Andrew’s church was built on the corner of Johnston and Elizabeth.
In 1915 (the war years) St. Andrew’s and Know were linked becoming a two-point charge.
In 1921 a severe windstorm damaged the church building on the corner of Montrose and Fourth making it unusable. The congregation continued to meet using the Methodist Church for their services.
In 1925 the Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists all decided to join together. Both of the Presbyterian congregations in Alberni and Port Alberni went into the United Church. However, nationally one third of the Presbyterians chose to remain outside of union.
In 1928, by local request, the work resumed in the Alberni Valley. The national Presbyterian Church supplied the congregation with ministers and financial grants.
In 1932 a small church was built on Third Avenue becoming the new home of Knox Presbyterian Church. (It is the current home of The Bread of Life Centre) There were several years of short-term ministry at Knox.
In 1966, the first sod was turned for the construction of the new Knox Presbyterian Church on the corner of Rex Road and Regina Avenue. In 1967, the current Knox Presbyterian Church was dedicated.
OUR MINISTERS
- 1887 – Rev. A. Dunn
- 1892 – Rev. S. Smith
- 1906 – Rev. T. Glassford
- 1913 – Rev. W. Oswald
- 1915 – Rev. H.A. Bain
- 1929 – Rev. T.H. McAllister
- 1934 – Rev. T.T. Glasford
- 1934 – Rev. D. Rowland
- 1936 – Rev. D. Munroe
- 1937 – Rev. D. McCullough
- 1940 – Mr. N. Vail
- 1941 – Rev. G.K. Agar
- 1942 – Rev. D.C. McLelland
- 1943 – Rev. W.E. Montgomery
- 1945 – Rev. D.L Crocker
- 1946 – Rev. A.M. Shannon
- 1946 – Rev. D. Black
- 1947 – Rev. R.D.A. Currie
- 1948 – Rev. N.O. White
- 1950 – Mr. D. Wilson
- 1950 – Mr. C. Townsley
- 1952 – Rev. W. Moorehead
- 1953 – Rev. J.N. Allan
- 1956 – Mr. D. Blair
- 1959 – Rev. H.M. McMilla
- 1959 – Rev. T. Evans
- 1961 – Rev. K. Knight
- 1964 – Rev. D. Smith
- 1968 – Rev. D. Stewart
- 1970 – Rev. R.C. Garvin
- 1987 – Rev. H.C. Vieira
- 1988 – Rev. D.P. Vieira
- 1994 – Rev. D. Robertson
- 1995 – Rev. C.M. Kuhn
- 2005 – Rev. L. Hargrove