Knox Presbyterian Church (Ottawa)
Encyclopedia
Knox Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian
Church in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is named after John Knox
, a founder of Presbyterianism
in Scotland
.
It was founded as a result of the split within the congregation of St. Andrew's
, Ottawa's first Presbyterian church, between those loyal to the Church of Scotland
and those supporting the Free Church movement, as had occurred in Scotland
the year before. The supporters of the Free Church in Ottawa and environs, set up Knox Free Church in 1844, just after the Church of Scotland
's Canadian
Synod
in Kingston
was split.
The original Knox Church was located in Sandy Hill
at the corner of Daly and Cumberland. In 1866, a number of members formed a congregation on Bank Street
, that is now Dominion-Chalmers United Church
, just two blocks west at Cooper and Lisgar.
In 1874, the Knox congregation moved downtown
, leaving their building to the first St. Paul's Presbyterian, that became St. Paul's-Eastern United Church (Eastern Methodist) after church union
in 1925.
This second Knox Church was built next door to the Second City Hall (Ottawa)
on what is today the site of the National Arts Centre
. It was designed by the architect, Henry Sproatt
. It opened prior to the formation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1875; the General Assembly of the Canada Presbyterian Church was held at Knox in 1874 where the deliberations over the Union took place.
In 1931, the City of Ottawa expropriated this area to widen Elgin Street
and Knox Church, who remained within the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1925, was forced to move south a few blocks to its present location at the corner of Lisgar and Elgin.
The present Knox Church building opened in 1932, and has hosted the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
three times: first in 1937, then in 1981, but only for the opening Worship, as the nearby University of Ottawa
was the scene of the proceedings. In 2008, Knox again hosted the opening Worship at General Assembly, while the remainder of the activities took place at Carleton University
.
The Reverend David J. Thom, called from the Church of Scotland
, began his ministry at Knox Church on August 7, 2011. Reverend Thom has a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of Aberdeen
and postgraduate diplomas in both Ministry and Pastoral Studies with Applied Theology. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, reaching the rank of Major, and was commissioned as a Reserve Forces Chaplain, working with both Cumbria Army Cadet Force and with 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
. In 2008, David was awarded the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria’s Certificate of Merit for work with Cumbria’s youth. Since its beginnings, Knox has had an impressive list of ministers:
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
Church in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is named after John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, a founder of Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It was founded as a result of the split within the congregation of St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Ottawa)
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is the oldest Presbyterian church in Ottawa, Canada.-Creation:St. Andrews is Ottawa's oldest Protestant [Presbyterian Church in Canada] congregation, with the original church opening in 1828...
, Ottawa's first Presbyterian church, between those loyal to the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
and those supporting the Free Church movement, as had occurred in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
the year before. The supporters of the Free Church in Ottawa and environs, set up Knox Free Church in 1844, just after the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
's Canadian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
was split.
The original Knox Church was located in Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill is a bilingual neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario located just east of downtown. The neighbourhood is bordered on the west by the Rideau Canal and on the east by the Rideau River. To the north it stretches to Rideau Street and the Byward Market area while to the south it is bordered by...
at the corner of Daly and Cumberland. In 1866, a number of members formed a congregation on Bank Street
Bank Street (Ottawa)
Bank Street is the major north-south road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs south from Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa, south through the neighbourhoods of Centretown, The Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Hunt Club, and then through the villages of Blossom Park, Leitrim, South...
, that is now Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Dominion Chalmers United Church is a large United church, located in downtown Ottawa, at the corner of Cooper and O'Connor Streets...
, just two blocks west at Cooper and Lisgar.
In 1874, the Knox congregation moved downtown
Downtown Ottawa
Downtown Ottawa is the central area of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Like other downtowns it is the commercial and economic centre of the city. It is sometimes referred to as the Central Business District and contains Ottawa's financial district. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, the...
, leaving their building to the first St. Paul's Presbyterian, that became St. Paul's-Eastern United Church (Eastern Methodist) after church union
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
in 1925.
This second Knox Church was built next door to the Second City Hall (Ottawa)
Second City Hall (Ottawa)
Ottawa, Ontario's second city hall was built in 1877 on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets and next to Ottawa's First City Hall.Built by architects Horsey and Sheard of Ottawa, the Second Empire French and Italian Style had one tall tower and three smaller ones...
on what is today the site of the National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
. It was designed by the architect, Henry Sproatt
Henry Sproatt
Henry Sproatt was a Canadian architect in the early 20th Century.Born in Toronto, he trained in Europe and in New York. He formed a partnership with another celebrated architect, John A. Pearson in 1890 and with Frank Darling in 1893...
. It opened prior to the formation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1875; the General Assembly of the Canada Presbyterian Church was held at Knox in 1874 where the deliberations over the Union took place.
In 1931, the City of Ottawa expropriated this area to widen Elgin Street
Elgin Street (Ottawa)
Elgin Street is a street in the Golden Triangle of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally named Biddy's Lane, it was later named after Lord Elgin....
and Knox Church, who remained within the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1925, was forced to move south a few blocks to its present location at the corner of Lisgar and Elgin.
The present Knox Church building opened in 1932, and has hosted the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
three times: first in 1937, then in 1981, but only for the opening Worship, as the nearby University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
was the scene of the proceedings. In 2008, Knox again hosted the opening Worship at General Assembly, while the remainder of the activities took place at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
.
The Reverend David J. Thom, called from the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, began his ministry at Knox Church on August 7, 2011. Reverend Thom has a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and postgraduate diplomas in both Ministry and Pastoral Studies with Applied Theology. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, reaching the rank of Major, and was commissioned as a Reserve Forces Chaplain, working with both Cumbria Army Cadet Force and with 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
105th Regiment Royal Artillery The Scottish & Ulster Gunners is a British Territorial Army Regiment of the Royal Artillery. The regiment is part of 51st Brigade...
. In 2008, David was awarded the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria’s Certificate of Merit for work with Cumbria’s youth. Since its beginnings, Knox has had an impressive list of ministers:
- Thomas Wardrope, 1845 - 1869, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1891.
- William MacLaren, 1870 - 1873 left to be Professor and Principal (1905 - 1909 of Knox CollegeKnox College, University of TorontoKnox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
. Moderator Presbyterian Church in Canada 1884, - Francis W. Farries, 1875 - 1893.
- James Ballantyne, 1894 - 1896, left to become a Professor at Knox CollegeKnox College, University of TorontoKnox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
, Moderator Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1920, - David M. Ramsay 1897 - 1913.
- Robert B. Whyte 1916 - 1923.
- E. Lloyd Morrow 1923 - 1926 left to become a Professor at Knox CollegeKnox College, University of TorontoKnox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
- Robert Johnston 1927 - 1947, Moderator Presbyterian Church in Canada, 1932 while minister of Knox Church.
- Colin Miller 1948 - 1955.
- H. Douglas Stewart, 1956 - 1972, left to become minister at St. Andrew's Church (Toronto)St. Andrew's Church (Toronto)St. Andrew's Church, 73 Simcoe Street, Toronto is a large and historic Romanesque Revival Presbyterian church in downtown Toronto, Canada.-History:...
. - Malcolm McCuaig 1972 - 1985,
- Donald F. Collier 1986 - 1992,
- Stephen A. Hayes 1993 - 2004, called to minister at St. Andrew's Church (Quebec City)St. Andrew's Church (Quebec City)St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in the Upper Town of Quebec City.The congregation's roots began with the British conquest of Quebec at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Under the leadership of Church of Scotland Chaplain Robert MacPherson...
- Douglas Kendall 2005 - 2009, called to minister at St. Andrew’s Church (Stittsville)