MOOSE JAW — St. Andrew’s United Church, , has a storied history in Moose Jaw that stretches back more than 100 years.
Residents built the first St. Andrew’s church building in 1912-13, although it started as a Presbyterian church, according to a church history book. This was because the United Church of Canada didn’t come into existence until 1925, when most Congregationalists, Methodists and Presbyterians agreed to merge and form one organization.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was one of the churches that agreed to join the new denomination.
In November 1936, after many years of discussion, the United Church of Canada ordained the first female priest, Lydia Gruchy, at St. Andrew’s in Moose Jaw.
Nearly three decades later, in December 1963, a fire destroyed St. Andrew’s building, which forced parishioners to hold church services at A.E. Peacock Technical High School while a new building was under construction.
When the church reopened, the sanctuary — where people worship — featured 12 beautiful stained-glass windows that the McCausland Company of Toronto had created. Six windows on the sanctuary’s east side are based on Bible passages about the life of Jesus Christ, while the large stained-glass window on the south wall features the Sermon on the Mount.
The other windows honour the congregation’s historical roots, while one window has an ecumenical theme that displays renowned religious figures from other denominations.
Besides its religious contributions, St. Andrew’s United Church has also been a resource that has contributed to building up the community, the church says. Among its contributions are:
- Operating the ABC Daycare, which served Moose Jaw for many years
- Running the XYZ organization, which served seniors before the Timothy Eaton Centre opened
- Renting space to the Moose Jaw Multicultural Society, which welcomes new immigrants to the community
- Serving meals to less fortunate and low-income people in Moose Jaw
With declining attendance, shrinking membership and fewer donations, the congregation voted late last year to cease worshipping and close the church. St. Andrew’s United Church held its final service on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m.
. He had been the minister there for 10 years, while they focused on community service activities during that decade, from bottle-feeding kittens to teaching music to helping create an affirming Christian congregation that welcomed diverse sexualities to sheltering refugees.
The couple moved to Regina, where Mrs. Tenford plays woodwind instruments for the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and teaches at the U of R.
