Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal

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The Church of Saint Andrew and St Paul is a Presbyterian church in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

It is the regimental church of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

This congregation is the 1918 merger of two congregations, both formed in the early years of the nineteenth century.

St. Andrew's Church, Montreal was formed in 1802. It was the second such Presbyterian congregation, following the Scots Presbyterian Congregation, St. Gabriel Street Church, that began in 1787, became First PC in 1910, and is now part of Knox, Crescent, Kensington and First.

Started in a room on Notre Dame Street, St. Andrew's was originally known as St. Peter's Street Church, and in 1820, became closer connected with the Church of Scotland.

  • Buildings:
    • 1806--St. Peter's Street
    • 1851-Building on Beaver Hall Hill
    • 1869-Building burned down and rebuilt.

In 1875, St. Andrew's remained out of the merger that joined Canadian Presbyterians; instead, remaining with the Church of Scotland until their merger with St. Paul's in 1918.

St. Paul's Church, was formed in 1832, as a result of another conflict at the pioneer St. Gabriel Street Church, over the successor to Rev. James Somerville; between either Rev. Robert Easton, or Rev. Edward Black (both assistants to Sommerville). The conflict went over to Scotland, where it was encouraged that the Canadian Church of Scotland congregations form their own Synod to handle such matters. The result of this, in 1831, was to form a new congregation in Montreal and St. Paul's, under the leadership of Black was the miniority from St. Gabriel, placed under Easton.

In 1870, this building served as the meeting place for the delegates from the 4 Canadian Presbyterian groups, that eventually merged in 1875. St Paul's gained a few St. Andrew's families who were supportive towards the Presbyterian Church in Canada.


[edit] St. Andrew and St Paul

The present building was constructed on Sherbrooke Street at the corner of Redpath, and opened in 1932. It is in close proximity to McGill University, Concordia University (George Wlliams Campus) as well as the Guy-Concordia Metro station.

[edit] Ministers

(list incomplete)

  • St. Andrew's 1803-1918
  • John Forrest (1803)
  • Robert Easton (1804-1822)
  • John Burns (1822-1824)
  • Rev. Alexander Mathieson, DD (1826-1870, 1837-38 leave)
  • Rev. Gavin Lang (1870-1882)
  • J. Edgar Hill (1882-19)


  • St. Paul's1832-1918
  • Edward Black, DD (1832-1845)
  • Rev. William Snodgrass, DD (1856-1864), appointed Principal of Queen's College, Kingston, Ontario.
  • Rev. John Jenkins, DD, (1865-1881)
  • James Barclay (1882-)
  • Bruce Taylor (-1918)


  • St.Andrew's and St. Paul's 1918-present
  • Rev. George Duncan (1919-1920)
  • Rev. George Donald (1925-1946)
  • Rev. R. J. Berlis, DD, (1946-1973)
  • Rev. William Russell (1973-198
  • Rev. J.S.S. Armour, DD, (198x-1998--presently Minister Emeritus)
  • Rev. Dr. Richard Topping (assistant to the Minister 1997-2000, Senior Minister February 2000-present)
  • Assistant and Associate Ministers

Since 1825, there have been many assistant and associate ministers connected with these congregations, as well as Presbyterian College students: On October 29 2006, Rev. Steve Filyk was ordained and Inducted to this position; he had also served in this congregation as a student at Presbyterian College. (full list to come)

[edit] External links