St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in 1875. The streets are now paved and the hitching posts at the front of the building have been replaced with car parking.
The congregation of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was formed in Victoria on 5th September 1866. Services were originally held in a converted hall as the church was not built when the congregation was formed. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was designed by architect Leonard Butress Trimen and built by Hayward and Jenkins. The site and building for the present church cost $11, 081. The building was completed and dedicated on 4th April 1869.
The Freemasons laid the foundation stone on 20th August 1868. Dr. Powell, Master of the Scotch Lodge, laid the stone. The cornerstone was laid on 7th March 1889 by Hon. John Robson. He declared the cornerstone laid by saying, “Our architect has pronounced this corner stone well and truly laid, and we hope to see erected upon it for the worship of the Almighty God an edifice alike creditable to Presbyterianism and the city.” A statement concerning the history of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, a few coins, and a copy of each of the city dailies and the leading Presbyterian journals of the dominion were, “the usual deposits placed in the stone.” Similar deposits were placed in the foundation stone.
Many citizens, including the Mayor and the clergymen of all the Protestant denominations, attended the celebration for the laying of the cornerstone. Speeches, scripture, hymns, and prayers were recited. There was a band in attendance that opened the ceremony with the 100th Psalm and closed the ceremony with the national anthem.
The laying of the cornerstone at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in 1889. The formal dress of the attendees gives the observer a sense of the importance of the event.
The erection of new buildings and the accompanying celebration was of utmost importance for the residents of Victoria. It contributed to community building and added to the sense of permanence in the colony. The grandiose ceremony for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church shows the importance of the event to all citizens of Victoria. The statement included in the cornerstone conveyed the importance when it stated, “…the erection of this new building may bind the hearts of the people together...” The Mayor is reported to have said that the erection of this building was evidence of the material prosperity of the city. People of the time were bound together by the erection of a new building and the ensuing ceremony. There was a sense of community pride. Citizens were proud that Victoria was prosperous enough to financially support the erection of a building and a grandiose celebration. The community came together to celebrate their prosperity, solidarity and permanence in the colony.