St Andrews Presbyterian Church has been on the Island since 1843. We are actually a daughter congregation of Christ Church in Warwick which has its origins in the Church of Scotland. Long before buses, cars and certainly scooters many of the people who attended Christ Church Warwick but who lived in Hamilton found the Sunday morning walk to church just a bit too long! A second place of worship was set up in Hamilton and ministered to by Christ Church. Our place of worship has changed over the early years but finally came to rest on the corner of Church and Court Street. Not only did our location undergo some changes in the early years but so did our association with the Church of Scotland. While Christ Church remained under the umbrella of the Church of
Scotland, St Andrews came under the oversight of the Presbyterian Church in Canada from where she draws her ministers today. However, the two congregations continue to hold joint services on special occasions and their ministers will frequently spell each other off when one or the other is off the Island.
The roots of our faith are firmly planted within the Presbyterian tradition but that certainly does not mean that our membership consists entirely of Presbyterians. Our membership is made up of people from various denominational backgrounds and even some who have no background within the church. We like to think of ourselves as belonging to the Reformed Faith for whom salvation is entirely of God’s grace. No matter who you are, no matter what your past has been like, no matter your church background or lack thereof you would be most welcome to join our worshipping body on Sunday mornings.
We enjoy visitors and if and when you arrive on our doorsteps we will do everything possible to make you feel welcome. We will even try to answer the question; “Why is your church pink?”