Long-time Leamington landmark closes its doors

By Mark Ribble With files from C. Scott Holland

Leamington’s oldest church building held its final service on Sunday evening, June 12.

The Knox Presbyterian Church has stood for over 130 years at the corner of Erie Street South and Setterington Street and if not for a devastating fire in May of 1891, would have been 144 years old.

The church’s current Clerk of Session, Glenna Lane, spoke to the Sun on Friday about the closure.

“It’s very sad news,” she said. “Congregation numbers have been declining.”

Ms. Lane said that the congregation has dwindled to under 100 people, most of whom are aging. The COVID pandemic further reduced the numbers and the church’s ability to raise funds.

“We’ve been working on it for months, hoping it would sort itself out,” said Ms. Lane.

The church had been without a minister since last November and it was recently decided to place the building up for sale.

The Knox has a long gloried history in Leamington, with beginnings uniquely tied to Leamington’s early growth and prosperity.

The first Presbyterian Church in Essex County was located in Comber and another opened up in nearby Blytheswood in the 1850s.

The Knox Presbyterian Church can be seen from the far end of Russell Street in 1907.

Scott Holland Collection photo

Local historian Scott Holland came up with the following history.

In 1872, a church was erected on a parcel land gifted by elder John Hope. That church was dedicated in October 1872. On May 8, 1876, at a meeting in John McRobbie Selkirk’s upper portion of Leamington’s post office, it was decided to start a Leamington-based church, separate from the Blytheswood congregation. It was sanctioned on August 2, 1876 by the Chatham Presbytery and had 23 members.

On October 24 of that same year, plans were made to build their own church. Selkirk, a church elder for 46 years, was the driving force to erect a frame building on the site of the present-day church. The structure cost $2,300 and was dedicated on February 24, 1878.

The mortgage was placed on Selkirk’s own property and John McRobbie stated, “I will trust you all to stand by me and see that it is redeemed in due time.”

The Leamington charge was a joint one with Blytheswood and ‘Campbell’s Settlement’ until May 1889 when Rev. Murray Watson took over. Its first board managers were John McRobbie Selkirk, J.H. VanZandt, F. McFarlane, Alexander Laing and John Ainslie.

The original building was destroyed by a fire on May 2, 1891.

The Knox Presbyterian Church on its last day of service — June 12, 2022.

Scott Holland Collection photo

The Knox Presbyterian Church on its last day of service — June 12, 2022.

The present-day brick structure replaced it at a cost of $7,000 and was opened on February 28, 1892.

In 1911, the congregation purchased land on the northeast corner of Victoria and Marlborough St. E. on which to build a manse. The lot cost $400 and the manse, which was built the following year, had a price tag of $3,600.

In 1920, the church purchased the land to its immediate north and in 1925 the congregation took on the prospect of enlarging and improving the building at the cost of $17,000. Among the improvements made were a choir loft, vestry, basement deepened, modern kitchen and washroom facilities.

A special service and ceremony were held on May 14, 1944 when the church burned its mortgage.

Minor alterations occurred in 1949 when chimes – which could be heard throughout Leamington – were installed and in 1951 a memorial window to honour those in the armed services.

The last major project was in March 1953 when sod for the Knox Hall was turned. The cornerstone was laid on June 1, 1955 and the $40,000 hall opened in January 1956.

Throughout its history, the Knox Presbyterian Church has had a small but vibrant congregation. The church has served the community with its Margaret Ramsay Auxiliary, CGIT, boy and girls Scouts programs.

Special joint services with other congregations, as well as weddings and funerals, have been held there.

The majesty of its architecture remains today, and as long as the structure stands, it will remind Leamington’s citizens of the commitment to faith and fellowship of its members.