John Baynes
1833-1859 |
Knox's
congregation has tried to be a Christian witness from pioneer times to
today. Each period has presented its own special challenges. Founded by
Scots in 1833, St. Andrews Church was the first home to the members who
in 1844 joined their minister, the Rev. John Baynes, to form the Presbyterian
Curch of Canada rather than remain the Church of Scotland. The supporters,
in fact, had formed a new congregation, calling it Knox's. At first, they
met in a barn and then a mill, before building their church on Market
Square. Dr. Bayne was, thus, the founder of the Free Presbyterian Church
of Canada. Of interest to the current generation, were items such as three-hour
services and rent pews. Dr. Bayne resigned in 1859 after over thirty years
of service.
Link to Dr. Bayne's Biography at the National Library
of Canada Here |
John Thompson
1861-1864 |
Dr. Thompson, who was remembered with
great affection, counselled parents to, "let your conversation in the presence
of your children be pure, affectionate, kindly and respectful." Of interest
today, was his salary of $1,200 a year. |
J.K. Smith
1865-1872 & 1874-1888 |
Dr. Smith, another Scot, was present
at the building of our current church. It was to seat 1,500 with the last
three rows saved for those without pews rented. |
A. Jackson
1888-1899 |
The congregation, now at 930 members,
decided to replace the communion tokens with cards. Six hundred attended
the Sunday School, while there were thirty-one elders to attend to the concerns
of the parish. It was under Dr. Jackson's pastorate that a new pipe organ
was purchased. |
R.E. Knowles
1898-1915 |
Mr. Knowles, minister, author and orator,
had attended Dr. Tassie's school, now Galt Collegiate. During this time,
the church expanded to accomodate the children in the new addition of the
Sunday School building in 1907. Forty-six teachers taught over three hundred
children. Despite the help of Associate Minister, J.E. Mothersill, in 1912,
Knowles resigned because of ill health. |
J. Keir Fraser
1915-1926 |
Dr. Fraser had a difficult decade with
the Great War in which sixteen parishoners died, the flu epidemic, the post
war readjustments, and finally the union crisis. The majority of the congergation
voted against joining the United Church. The congregation dwindled to 809
from 1121. |
William Patterson Hall
1927-1934 |
Hall came at a bad time too, with a
reduced congregation, debts and then the Great Depression. Even with all
the bleakness he was helpful in starting up weekly prayer meetings, he organized
the first Scout Troop in the church, he instituted a great social event
"the Annual Irish Night" and it was during his time that the radio hour
was started. Due to ill health he was advised by his physician to tender
his resignation which he did in 1934. He and his family then returned to
Ireland. |
James Smart
1935-1941 |
Dr. Smart came as an energetic twenty-eight
year old. He took a special interest in the curriculum for Sunday School.
He was a writer then lecturer. In 1938, the side galleries were removed
and the ten stained glass windows were donated. |
William James Walker
1942-1953 |
During his decade a war time nursery
was held at the church, The Ladie's Parlor was created from the Board Room
and the seat pews names were removed in 1944. Knox's lost eleven of its
youth in the war. |
Robert A. Jackson
1954-1985 |
Mr. Jackson was a well-loved, spirit-filled
Irishman, who showed warmth and compassion to the problems and joys of his
parishioners. He was a pastor at a time of boom and growth. The Sunday School
enrollment was over three hundred and the brownies, guides, cubs and scouts
flourished. Bob Jackson was a witness in the wider community too, as he
was known for the Golden Hour and for his involvment in the Library Board,
Scouts, and the St. John Ambulance Corps. |
Gordon Timbers
1981-1988 |
Gordon came to Knox's as Associate Minister
to lighten the load and expand God's work. He became the Senior Minister
at Knox's when Bob Jackson retired and continued in this position for three
years. Gordon was an excellent team player and was much admired by the congregation.
He and his wife, Karen, were very inspirational in writing a curriculum
for the Presbyterian Church Sunday School systems. |
Linda Brown-Ewing
1986-1996 |
Linda also had many challenges. As Knox's
first woman minister, Dr. Ewing steered the congregation through many trials
presented when the fire of April 1989 destroyed the Sunday School addition
and made the rest of the church unusable for two years. It was her task,
after this disruption, to revive the congregation to serve Christ amidst
a confused society where there is a decline in morals, big competition for
time and givings, the "me" generation of self-interest and a lingering recession.
As in the past, the challenge remained to allow the Holy Spirit to guide
parishioners for "the Extention of the Redeemer's Kingdom." |