HISTORY OF GRACE-ST.ANDREW'S UNITED
CHURCH
1890 saw the construction of the present "Stone Church," as
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was known. The Wesleyan Methodists constructed
the brick building called Grace Methodist at 257 John North in 1894. After the
amalgamation of the two denominations into the United Church in 1925, this
building began service as the Christian Education Centre. Note the original
Presbyterian manse, built in 1864 and located at 24 Ottawa
Street.
North Memorial Window
The
centre panel of the North Memorial Window was installed by the congregation of
Grace-St. Andrew's as a grateful tribute to those who gave their lives in
defence of justice and liberty between the years 1939 and 1945. The left
panel was placed in memory of Ida Gillies Robertson, the sister of John S. and
David A. Gillies. This panel was given by her husband Niel S. Robertson,
who had served as the clerk of session of this congregation for many
years. The right panel was placed in memory of Thomas Stephen Church
(1883-1943), a well-known Arnprior businessman, by his beloved wife, Clyde
Church, who was very active in the church. This window has been
embellished by a full-bloom red rose on a cross, as well as the
llcroix."
This memorial window was
dedicated by Rev. C.E. Armstrong, then chair of the Renfrew Presbytery,
and by Rev. D.H. Woodhouse, minister of the church at the time. It
was unveiled by His Excellency Viscount Alexander of Tunis, the Governor
General of Canada, on November 25,1951.
South Memorial Window
The South Memorial
Window was dedicated to the Glory of God and was placed in memory of the men of
this
congregation who gave their lives for freedom in the two great
wars. It is also a memorial to John Stark Gillies(1868-1938), who served
the communities of Arnprior and Braeside with energy and expertise. He was
one of the presidents of Gillies Bros. Company Limited and was very active
in the United Church in both Braeside and Arnprior This splendid stained-glass
window was placed by his brother David A. Gillies, who also served
Grace-St. Andrew's exceptionally well as an elder and as a member of the
board of stewards. In the lower left and right corners of this window
arethe crests for the Canadian and Ontario Coats of
Arms.
The Mae McLachlin Memorial Window
The Mae
McLachlin Memorial Window is the newest of our windows. The stewards of the
church commissioned Ottawa Valley artist Stephen Brathwaite to create a
memorial that would reflect the love, kindness,
gentleness and beauty
of Mae (Frizell) McLachlin (1900-1984), who had served as a beloved elder
for many years and won the hearts of people throughout the community. The
border on the left side of the window, similar to that on the
large McCausland Memorial Window, is meant to emphasize the
traditionalist quality of Mrs. McLachlin, who loved the church and
cherished her roots. The "eternity line" seems to follow tradition for a
while, then assumes a jagged, unpredictable pattern, suggesting also that
Mrs. McLachlin was her
own person, with her own values, opinions and
ideas. When this window is illuminated, from behind or in front, the
blue, red, brown, gray and white fragments of glass, which were gathered
from
Renfrew and Lanark counties, refract and transform themselves,
giving the
impression of the ever-changing scenes of life.
The Star of David/Star of Creation Window
High above the gallery is
the Star @f David, or Star of Creation,
Window.
Huge, magnificent and splendid,
it is seldom seen or fully appreciated because
it is located in a
place that can only be viewed best from the front of the sanctuary
looking towards the congregation. Its message is obvious. This
window reminds the church of its Jewish heritage
and that the New
Testament is hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is revealed in the
New. The star shape is formed by two interlocking triangles, which
symbolically remind us of the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. The spectacular shade of red in the stained
glass connotes sovereign
power, martyred saints and redemption.
Photo by Tom Hanson
The Original sanctuary, as constructed in 1980
The sanctuary at present
