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St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Westville
The St. Andrew’s congregation was formed in 1925, when the congregation of the Carmel Church, along with the congregation of St. Philip’s church, voted to go into United Church of Canada. The Reverend Robert Johnson of New Glasgow appointed Messrs. John Steele and Rod MacDougall elders to form a session of the new congregation. Services were held in the Masonic Hall until the Carmel Church and manse were purchased from the United Church of Canada. The church was renamed St. Andrew’s, and was opened in July 1926. It is the oldest church building in the town.
The history of the Presbyterian Church goes back to the beginning of the Town of Westville. On May 23, 1871, a committee of Presbytery, consisting of the Reverends George Patterson, John MacKinnon, A.J. Merrit and John Matheson, met at Westville to organize a congregation and to elect elders. The new congregation became known as the Carmel Presbyterian Congregation. A church was built in 1872, but during the Service of Dedication it burned to the ground. Although horrified to see their new church burned, the members soon set to work to rebuild. The new church was dedicated the following year. The Carmel congregation was unique in being served by only three pastors. The Reverend John Lees, the first pastor, was called in 1873, and remained six years. He was succeeded by the Reverend Robert Cummings, who ministered for 31 years, resigning in 1912. In April of the following year, the Reverend D.A. Frame became minister, and remained until 1926 after the Church Union.
St. Philip’s congregation was formed in 1870 as part of the St. John’s congregation, Stellarton. A church was built in 1871 and named after the Reverend W.M. Philip. This church was used until February 24, of that year; a new St. Philip’s church was dedicated by the Reverend W.W. MacNairn who ministered there 18 years, resigning in 1922. The church was burned on July 13, 1945.
The St. Andrew’s bell steeple was struck by lightning in 1942. The other steeple caught fire in 1943 and almost burned the church. The pipe organ was installed in 1948, in memory of the members who died in the two world wars. The new church hall was opened on November 19, 1957, by the Reverend H.M. Buntain, a former minister, and the Reverend Wm. Reid, Moderator of Presbytery. Buntain gave the church its longest ministry.
Church organists were Lillian Gunn, Bella Oliver, Isabel Grant MacLean, Graham Fraser, and Mrs. MacDonald.
Some Early Ministers of St. Andrew’s
John Hardwick………………………………1925-26
H.W. Allen…………………………………..1927-31
Roy J. Stewart………………………………1931-36
G.S. Mitchell………………………………..1936-44
H.M. Buntain………………………………..1944-54
J. Cathcart………………………………… 1955-57
With its two steeples, St. Andrew’s Church today looks much different from what it looked like when the builders of the Carmel Church raised the building with a square tower at the center of its front.
Firemen fight the fire on St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church Steeple
St. Philip's Presbyterian
Church in the mid-twenties. Insert is the Rev. L.B.
Campbell, Minister of the
800-seat house of worship, which was destroyed by fire in
1945. St. Paul's United Church occupies the site today