Our roots within the Town of Renfrew and the surrounding communities run deep. Information garnered over the years indicate a Presbyterian connection dating back to the missionaries who followed the first explorers to the area. Those pioneers first held worship services in their homes which led to the formation of the McNab-Horton Presbyterian Church in 1811, and subsequently the Canaan Church in 1842.
The Renfrew Presbyterian Church, known as the “Canadian Presbyterian” or “Free Church”, a break away from the mother church in Scotland, was built on the north side of the Village. Under the guidance of two well known and loved ministers, the union of these two Presbyterian Church sects took place in 1875 and in 1883 members of the Canaan Church joined with Renfrew. That same year, a large stone church was built on land donated by Mr. Plaunt and named “St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church”.
However, in January 1925, a vote on church union between Presbyterians and Methodists to form a United Church was made. With a small majority in favour of Church Union, those who desired to remain Presbyterian arranged to hold Sunday morning worship services in the Temperance Hall (known currently as “The Old Town Hall”) and a Sunday evening Service at the O’Brien Opera House. With a desire to have a building of their own, Mrs. Alex Barnet Sr. gifted property for the building of a new Presbyterian Church, which was gratefully accepted.
Plans were
created and approved, and on September 28, 1925 Mrs. Barnet Sr. turned the first sod for the creation of our current building. Seven months later, on April 25, 1926 the building was formally dedicated and the first communion in the new building celebrated May 2, 1926.
The building has retained much of its original design, yet moving forward reflecting the times and needs of the congregation. A manse – the home of the minister – was added in 1950 and an addition of the Kirk Hall in the 1960’s after the original hall was destroyed by fire.