The St. Andrew’s Presbyterian congregation first met in 1794 and completed their ‘meeting house’ – the first church in Newark – the following year. That church was destroyed by the American forces in the burning of the town in 1813. The congregation then met in the schoolhouse until a new structure was erected, and the current church was dedicated in 1831. The historical photo, from the collection of the Niagara Historical Society & Museum, shows the church in the mid-nineteenth century.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is a fine classical brick shell with large round-headed windows, fronted by a Greek Doric columned porch providing an “accomplished façade” (P. Stokes). The interior plan is unusual in that the pulpit is a the entry end, with aisles on either side leading to the pews. The pews are of particular note being of three types: box, slip and table pews. The pulpit (1840) is a particularly finely carved feature of black walnut by the joiner John Davidson. A gallery surrounds the nave on three sides, supported by delicate columns. The expansive glass, and the white painted walls and millwork provide an airy, open interior.
The church has undergone a number of restorations over the years – the first following a cyclone in 1855 which had caused severe damage. In 1937, a major restoration under the direction of Prof. Eric Arthur was undertaken through the efforts of The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and the philanthropist Thomas Foster, an ex-mayor of Toronto. In 2010-11 a committee of the church implemented the most recent restoration, which corrected damage to many of the exterior features. The Niagara Foundation committed funds to the restoration of the steeple as a part of the bigger project.
This dominant steeple is an important and much loved feature of the townscape.
Recognition
In September 2024 as part of the St. Andrew’s service commemorating the 230th anniversary of the church, a plaque about the restoration of the church steeple was unveiled. Long-time Foundation Director and St. Andrew’s member Richard Merritt spoke about the many heritage projects of The Niagara Foundation.
Over the decades several volunteer directors of The Niagara Foundation were also active members of St. Andrew’s including Gerry Wooll, John Gwynne, Frank Hawley, Harry Dawson, Dr. Roy Tranter and Janice Thomson.