About St. andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Orillia, Ontario
Mission Statement
We’re a community with a faith rooted in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We are stewards of a vision of faith and worship. We have a goodly heritage which inspires and challenges us.
Through God’s grace, we are nurtured and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to reach out, witness, and serve in an ever-changing world.
our histoRy
Our church began as a Sabbath School established in 1834 by Mrs. James Dallas, one of the prominent settlers of the small village of Orillia. It was the first Sabbath School to teach the children of Orillia, and continued in operation until it was absorbed into the church in 1851.
Conscious of the need of regular ‘Gospel Ordinances’, eleven persons came together to petition the Presbytery of York to establish a Presbyterian work in Orillia, Oro, and Medonte in 1839. As a result, the minister of Knox Church, Spadina in York (now Toronto), Dr. Robert Burns, visited to conduct Divine Worship. Beginning in 1845, he and others visited the area at irregular intervals to conduct Gospel Ordinances.
Outstanding interior features of the church include ornately carved woodworks, stained and leaded glass, a decorative iron railing around the balcony, and a beautiful raised choir loft.
St. James Cemetery
St. Andrew’s – St. James’ Cemetery, Orillia was established jointly in 1873 by the congregations of the Orillia Presbyterian Church (St. Andrew’s) and St. James’ Anglican Church, Orillia for public use. Ownership of the Cemetery remains with these two congregations.
The Cemetery property extends over nearly forty eight acres and currently contains in excess for twenty thousand interments. Approximately ten acres remain vacant for development.
By provincial statute, forty percent of the proceeds of lot sales and fifteen percent or a minimum of one hundred dollars of niche sales must be retained in a care and maintenance fund administered under the Loan and Trust Corporation act of Ontario. Only the interest revenue produced by the fund may be used by the Cemetery for its perpetual upkeep.
The affairs of the Cemetery are managed by an eight member Board of Trustees appointed equally by the two owner congregations. A Cemetery business Manager, Field Manager and Field Staff are entrusted with the physical concerns of the Cemetery. The Board meets on the third Thursday of each month.
Winter burials have been available but temporary entombments are provided in the Mortuary Vault for families opting to have spring burials. “A CHAPEL OF LIFE MEMORIES” Columbarium is also available.
Grande pipe orGan
Get to know the history behind St. Andrew’s Casavant – Letourneau Grande Pipe Organ Opus 0889.
Memorable EVents
- 1832 First settlers arrive (Ojibway Indians at Orillia)
- 1834 Mrs. James Dallas started Sabbath School
- 1851 Formation of congregation. Rev. John Gray, M.A. first minister
- 1852 Original Church was built – the first church building in Orillia
- 1856 The Female Assoc. organized, became Ladies’ Aid, then St. Andrew’s Guild, now Ladies Auxiliary
- 1865 First organ placed in church
- 1886 Women’s Missionary Society was formed
- 1889 Present Church opened
- 1893 Pipe Organ installed
- 1914 New Sabbath School building opened
- 1921 Memorial Organ dedicated, one of the largest in Canada
- 1937 Sanctuary redecorated with some modifications to the Choir and Pulpit area, new Communion table & new electric light system
- 1967 25 bell Carillon installed, Coffee House and Recreation Centre opened
- 1977 Major fire in the N.E. wing, reopened September 1978
- 1980 New entrance ramp to the Sanctuary installed
- 1983 Church designated a Heritage Building in Ontario
- 1985 S.E. Tower struck by lightning, Echo Organ destroyed, extensive damage to sanctuary
- 1986 Sanctuary restored, new Echo Organ dedicated
- 1991 Elevator installed, Coffee House renovations
- 1994-7 Building and Organ restoration
- 2002 Schulmerich Carillon Bells digital system installed
- 2005 Sanctuary multi-media system installed in the church; main kitchen renovated
- 2006 Main kitchen renovated and two new heating plants
- 2008 New washrooms on main floor, stage lighting in the sanctuary and new light fixtures and audio system in the Fellowship Hall
- 2009 Library window installed
- 2009 New youth groups launched
- 2010 Present Minister Rev. Karen Horst arrived
- 2010 Seniors’ Centre launched
- 2011 160th Anniversary Celebrations
- 2011 Mission relationship with James Village, Malawi Africa established
- 2012 Portions of entire roof repaired and completely shingled over-all
- 2013 Ministry with University/ College students launched
- 2014 Rev. Peter Rombeek arrived to do Youth and Family Ministry from 2014 to 2016
- 2015 Rev. Karen elected as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church
- 2015 Our first ECE was hired to cover our nursery programme
- 2017 The Rev. Dr. Karen Horst receives a Honorary Doctorate from Knox college
- 2017 Addition of contract staff for communication, youth, & children’s ministries
- 2019 The Rev, Dr. Eric Beggs, Emeritus was presented with a commemorative plaque honouring his 31 years of dedicated ministry at OPC & the Orillia area
