A Brief Outline of the History of the building of St. Andrews Anglican Church:

 

1907 – St. Andrews began as a mission church of St. James.

1910 – Work began on the building of a small frame church believed to be located on the south side of Portage near Moray Street. 

1911 – A Deed of Formation of the Parish of St. Andrew was issued by Archbishop Matheson  (March, 1911).

1912 – The small frame church described above was moved to property (2 lots) on 237 Wallasey Street.

Early 1920’s – A bell tower is added to the church structure 

1947 – The two lots on Wallasey were exchanged for two lots on Portage Avenue and a new church was built on the Woodhaven site with much of the work done by the parishioners and Reverend Thain.  The three stained glass windows, communion table, organ and brass plaque all in memory of the Reverend Tom Marshall were transferred to the new church.  Other memorials were:  a lectern in memory of Hilda Gertrude Saul, two Hymn Boards in memory of Thomas Wilkinson, a prayer desk and chair in memory of T.H. Gibbs, baptismal font in memory of Ernest and Maud Stutter, an altar rail made by E. Goswell, an honour roll naming those who had served in World War I and two brass plaques in memory of Roderich Alexander Bannatyne and Basil Ward Guilbert who had died in the war.  Pews were brought from the old church plus new pews were ordered.

1950 – A Service of Consecration was officiated by The Most Reverend Ralph Sherman.  The oak pulpit, hand carved by R. Gibbs, was used for the first time at this service.

1950 – The Church of England in Canada changed its name to the Anglican Church of Canada.  The Women’s Auxillary purchased the lot beside the church to build a rectory.

1954 – The old rectory is sold and the new rectory completed.  A new altar was carved by R. Gibbs who later added the chancel rail in honor of the Logan family.

1958 – The rectory is paid for and a new organ purchased.

1961 – A new parish hall was built. 

1974 – The parish hall mortgage is paid off in February and Reverend Whitehouse is made an Honourary Citizen of Winnipeg.  A fire was set by an arsonist in the Parish Hall in August yielding extensive smoke damage.

1979 – The new Allen organ is installed in the church.

1985 – An extension to the west end of the church is built.

1986 – St. Andrew’s celebrates its 75^th Anniversary

1995 – The rectory is sold, moved off the property and the proceeds placed in Trust Funds.

Recent upgrades to the church – The church roof is replaced with a green metal roof, a new organ is installed, new lighting and updated sound system is installed in the church, new furnaces for both the church and parish hall are purchased, the kitchen is renovated, a Prayer Garden is created, the offices for the Rector and Church Secretary updated as well as the choir room and the Altar Guild room.

Through the Years with the Rectors:

1910 – 1917 – The Reverend Lot Swalwell was appointed rector of St. Andrew’s

1917 – 1944 – The Reverend Tom Marshall was rector of St. Andrew’s.  Upon his death, the parishioners set up a Memorial Fund and three stained glass windows and a new communion table were purchased.  An organ fund was also established.

1944 - 1952 – The Reverend A.E. Thain was the rector.  He was also a trained electrician and did the church wiring.  He carved the two angels which are resting on top of the reredos above the altar.

1952 – 1960 – The Reverend Arthur Wilcox was inducted as parish priest in April 1952 and he and his family moved into the new rectory in September 1954.

1960 – 1966 – The Reverend Stan Whitehouse became the new rector of St. Andrews in September 1960 and quickly became involved in a campaign to build the parish hall. The next few years saw a rapid growth in church attendance with 385 families attending St. Andrew’s.  A junior choir sang at the 9:30 church service and the processional cross was carried by one of the choir boys.

1966 -1970 – The Reverend Jack Bays became the rector of St. Andrews in September 1966.  During this time St. Andrew’s parish was a very youthful parish with 41% of the parish under 21 years of age.  A Folk Mass was held once a month at the evening service

1970 – Canon Leslie Taylor was appointed interim rector (May to September, 1970) .

1970 - 1993  - The Reverend Bob Johnson returns to St. James with his family as the rector of St. Andrews.  Reverend Bob was well known for his love of sports and discussions of local political issues.

1977 - 1981 – Canon Fairclough is hired as an assistant rector.

1981 – 1983 – Canon Harold Newton is assistant rector

1983 – 1991 – The Reverend Roy Embley is assistant rector

1986 – 1993 – The Reverend Stanley Millar is appointed assistant rector sharing the position with Roy Embley for five years.

1993 – 1994 - Reverend Canon Jack Johnstone is appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrews until a new Rector is selected.

1994 to current date – The Reverend Ian Mills is appointed to St. Andrews and has overseen a number of innovations within the church including the purchase of computers, formation of the Men’s Club, change in the number of Sunday services and the Prayer Garden.

Still to Come . . . .

Dedicated Parish Volunteers

Interesting Facts and Anecdotes