St. Andrew & St. Paul’s congregations share the same origins in an early Presbyterian congregation which began holding formal services in 1843 in Bowmanville.

In 1925, the Methodist Church, the Congregational Union, and about 70% of the Presbyterian Church in Canada merged together to form The United Church of Canada. The union was primarily driven by a desire to consolidate resources and expand mission work in the Canadian West. While the Methodist and Congregationalist churches supported the merger overwhelmingly, it caused deep divisions among Presbyterians.

About 30% of Presbyterians, largely based in Ontario, resisted the union. They successfully fought for their legal right to retain their properties, funds, and their original name, continuing to operate as The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

In Bowmanville, 74 members withdrew from St. Paul’s but lost their legal battle to retain ownership of the St. Paul’s church. They purchased their own building, a structure built by The Disciplines of Christ in 1892, down the street at the corner of Temperance and Church. They renovated and dedicated the church as St. Andrew’s Prebyterian Church.

In 2024, Paul’s United Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church entered into an Ecumenical Shared Ministry, healing the schism created in 1925 and returned to welcoming arms at St. Paul’s church. In 2025, the congregation sold the building to the Holy Syriac Orthodox Church who rededicated the church but retained the St. Andrew’s name.

Timeline:

1834 First organization of a Presbyterian Church in Bowmanville

1842 First Presbyterian church building erected at Temperance & Church Streets

1844 Presbyterian Church of Canada (Free Kirk) split with Established Church (Auld Kirk) in Scotland

1845 Bowmanville’s first Presbyterian Minister inducted: Reverend Alexander Steele

1850 Canada Presbyterian built first Church near Prospect St. and Lambs Lane in Bowmanville

1851 Reverend John Smith inducted to Canada Presbyterian Church (Bowmanville & Enniskillen)

1863 Canada Presbyterian Church bought first manse on Beach Avenue in Bowmanville ($970)

1869 Bowmanville & Enniskillen congregation separated due to size

1871 Canada Presbyterian congregation erected a new building at 178 Church Street ($7,631)

1876 Bell installed in Church Tower

1877 Session renamed Canada Presbyterian Church to St. Paul’s Church

1900 Sunday School hall, new lights and a pipe organ were added

1906 St. Paul’s bought the present manse at 190 Church Street in Bowmanville

1921 St. Paul’s received Colours of 2nd Canadian Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment

1922 Major renovations were made to church and manse

1925 United Church of Canada formed by Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists. St. Paul’s Church became St. Paul’s United Church. Disaffected Presbyterians, left St. Paul’s and established St. Andrew’s

1929 Steeple, damaged by lightning, was removed