History

In 1867 the Tillsonburg Methodist Church was built on the site of the present St. Paul’s United Church. This building was consumed by fire in 1912 and replaced with the present church, which opened in 1914. In 1917 the name was changed to St. Paul’s Methodist Church.

In 1925 the Methodist, Congregationalist and Presbyterian churches in Canada joined together to create the United Church, and so the name was changed once again and has remained St. Paul’s United Church.

The beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary were installed and dedicated over the years from 1937-54. In 1985 plans were made for the demolition of the gymnasium to make way for a new Friendship Centre, which opened in 1988. This center includes the Friendship Room, Minister’s study and offices, elevator, Sunday School rooms and a multi-purpose room. The existing Banquet Hall was also enlarged and a spacious, state of the art kitchen was added.

Throughout the years the congregation has successfully met various challenges and has maintained the beauty and structure of the church building. In 2002 the Sanctuary Refurbishing project was completed after months of plastering, painting, carpeting, re-upholstering and refinishing of the hardwood floors. The church manse was also leased to a local businessman, and in 2004 it opened as “The Manse” restaurant.

Currently work is underway to make the church accessible to all people. A motorized door was installed in the summer of 2004 and more projects are planned to ensure St. Paul’s remains a safe, accessible and welcoming place of worship.

Throughout the years the members of St. Paul’s have remained committed to serving God by serving others. With numerous projects and activities they have reached out to the community of Tillsonburg and beyond, sharing their love and resources. It is in their efforts that the real history of the church can be found, and the enduring faith and strength of this congregation.

If you wish to learn more about the history of our church, please visit our archives located in the back of the sanctuary. You may also wish to read “Stories of Our Church,” by archivist Marion Hevenor, which traces the history of St. Paul’s with photos, documents and lively writing. In these words from the introduction she captures both the heart and history of this congregation.

"As I sat one day at the back of the church in the lovely new archives area pondering over what I might write, I thought of many things and this is what I put on paper."

I see the shining floor
In the rotunda
and I think of the myriads of footsteps
That have been taken on that floor
Those of happy or perhaps
Reluctant children
Attending Sunday School
Those of brides waiting
Anxiously with their fathers
To walk down the aisle
Those who regularly
Or infrequently
Attended Sunday services
Or those mourning
For a loved one.

I lift my eyes toward the sanctuary
What a beautiful sanctuary
The pews in a semi-circle
Drawing us together
The center aisle
Narrow for a bride and her father
But not long.

In the background
But very much a part of the church
The beautiful stained glass windows
The sun shining through casting coloured beams
Of light on the woodwork.

I can see just two,
Jesus with the children
And the Sower
Their rich colours
Bringing that sense
Of dignity and reverence
Reserved
Especially for God’s house.

I cannot help but look
Toward the ceiling
The fans almost silent
In their turning, as if
Cautioning us to be silent
And the lights
Ah! The circular lights
How many children
Have counted those lights
And wondered
How they changed the bulbs.

My attention is drawn
To the front of the church
The lectern
The pulpit
The Communion table
With their beautiful carvings
Especially The Last Supper.

Behind the Communion table
Is the organ
I can’t see it, but
I am almost expecting to hear
The delightful music of Bach
Perhaps a minuet or a prelude
Or the familiar
Come Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love.

Finally my gaze is directed
Toward the cross
The meaning of it all.
The silence almost overwhelms me
And I want to say
A silent prayer
For those who laboured
To build this church
And to thank God
That we have a part
In caring for it and
In worshipping in it.

It is a beautiful church, but
In all it’s beauty
We must not
Forget its purpose.

May we, who leave
Footprints here
Go out into the world
And leave footprints
Where
We have helped the needy
Listened to others
Prayed with or for others and
In some way we
Have helped
To make this a better world.

By Marion Hevenor
Archivist
St. Paul’s United Church

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