Memories:  The Stories of the People of St. Andrew’s

In September 1909, a committee of the Presbytery of Brandon recommended that a Mission be opened in the east end of Brandon. The Rev. Donald McVicar supervised this work, until February when the Home Mission Committee took over. Mr. Thomas Murphy, a student at Brandon college, led the congregation during the summer months of 1910.

Initially, church services were held in a private home, then a Baptist church on 143 Second Street. By December 19, 1910 we were worshipping in our current building located at 361 Russell Street. In June 1911, Rev. J. Knox Clark accepted the call to St. Andrew’s to become our first minister.

St. Andrew’s Church boasts the oldest church building in the city. Built in 1885 and home to First Baptist Church, it was moved to 13th Street where it became Knox Presbyterian Church. In 1910 it was rolled using logs and horses to its current location and became St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

•1911 Mrs. Rev. Clark formed the first Women’s Missionary Society.
•1912 The first Mission Band was formed.
•1914 – 1918 Many from St. Andrew’s served in WW I.
•1918 – 1919 St. Andrew’s served as a day school for beginners due to overcrowding in the schools.
•1921 St. Andrew’s became a self sustaining congregation.
•1921 The mortgage was paid off and burned.   Extensive remodeling took place  in and around the Church for the next three years. The basement was further excavated, a new floor was lain, and pews were installed to replace the chairs that had been used to this date.
•1922 First Manse purchased at 360 Fredrick Street.
•1924 Average Sunday School attendance 241.
•1925 The congregation voted against church union and we remained Presbyterian.
•1926 Young People’s Society (Bible Study) formed.
•1930 Mrs. Sarah Allen organized the Nimble Sewing Fingers club in 1930.
•1939 – 1945 Many from St. Andrew’s served in WW II.
•1949 Women’s Auxiliary was formed.
•1951 Basement renovated.
•1958 Sanctuary remodeled.
•1960 New manse purchased at 540 Princess Avenue.
•1973 New manse purchased at 1405 Van Horne Avenue.
•1989 Manse sold, ministers receive housing allowance.
•1999 Basement and Sanctuary remodeled.
•2001 New addition built including: Sunday School room, elevator, nursery,  church office, and kitchen.
•2004 St. Andrew’s Church goes online!  Website www.pcbrandon.com is built.
•2007 St. Andrew’s and First Presbyterian go to Gulfport Mississippi to provided hurricane disaster assistance.
•2009 St. Andrew’s begins cenntenial year!

MINISTERS

Mr. Thomas Murphy 1910
Rev. J. Knox Clark 1911-1915
Rev. R.J. Savage 1915-1919
Rev. R. Paterson 1919 – 1925
Rev. J.J. Cowan 1925-1930
Rev. W.J. Allen 1931-1943
Rev. S.J. Lookman 1944 – 1947
Rev. J.B. Fox 1949-1951
Rev. J.B. Inglis 1953-1960
Rev. B. Herrod 1960-1963
Rev. D.S. Paterson 1964 – 1969
Rev. J.E. Riddell 1969-1971
Rev. W.M. Barber 1972 – 1978
Rev. M. McNabb 1979-1983
Rev. D.S. Wilson 1984
Rev. V. Cottrill 1985-1991
Rev. M. Mullin 1992-1999
Rev. J. van Vliet 2000- 2002
Rev. Paul Sakasov 2004-2012

Rev. Glenn Ball 2014 –