By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—In many ways a church is like a home. It is where families begin, gather, and celebrate. It is where new members are welcomed and loved ones remembered. It is where children play, learn, and grow, and where adults share fellowship and serve. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church has been home to generations of Hagersville families for 140 years. On July 9, there will be a closing service to remember and celebrate its rich legacy.
The St. Andrew’s congregation began meeting in 1880 in various locations in Hagersville. With determination and community support, they built a church that was ready for services in January 1883. Along with weekly worship, the church family would enjoy garden parties, picnics at the lake, skating parties, sleigh rides, and socials.
Through fellowship the congregation grew from 55 members in 1880 to 155 members from 59 families in 1913 to 269 members by 1952. In its centennial year, 1983, there were 195 members. The building grew with the addition of a church hall in 1972. This expansion made St. Andrew’s a gathering place for Sunday worship alongside church and community events.
One of many St. Andrew’s families is the Nixons. At the age of 94, Jean Nixon is one of the oldest church members. Born when “times were really tough”, Jean was the second oldest of seven children. She says, “Every Sunday my family and I would dress up in our very best clothes, hats, and shoes to go to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian.”
With just one sister and five brothers, Jean laughs as she says, “Just think of all the white shirts my mom had to get ready – you know what the irons were like!” With a sense of nostalgia she adds, “Sundays were considered family day, so after church we would spend the afternoon and evening with our family playing music, playing cards, and cooking together.”
Jean says, “Church has been a big part of my life over the years.” From baptism and Sunday School she later joined the choir. She was an elder for almost 25 years and part of the Jessie Gordon Women’s Group. She cut the grass, looked after the flowers, and decorated the church. Her niece, Brenda (Nixon) Gallant, says, “She was the main decorator for sure! It was always beautifully decorated.”
Jean visited shut-ins, sent cards for special occasions, and gave elderly members rides to church. She helped clean and prepare the manse for new ministers, made rugs to send to countries in need, and helped prepare and serve many dinners in the hall that was built by her brothers.
Jean’s work adorns the sanctuary in the form of two quilts: one depicting the church facade and the other a tree commemorating the 125th church anniversary with the words “Deeply Rooted in Christ Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
Jean was honoured to have images of both featured on bulletin covers distributed by The Presbyterian Church of Canada.
Jean says, “I didn’t mind working but I was always the bashful one.” She’s observant, too, as Gallant says, “She still remembers where every family in the church sat.” In fact, Jean continues to sit in the pew that she used to share with her parents and six siblings.
Jean’s sister-in-law Audrey Nixon holds similar St. Andrew’s memories. She has been treasurer for 27 years and involved with “everything”. Both women were among the many volunteers who helped keep the arena concession stand operating for 47 years.
Audrey’s children were baptised at St. Andrew’s and attended the Sunday School. She recalls her daughter Connie’s wedding in 1986. She says, “It hadn’t rained in five or six weeks. The gauge hit four inches that day!”
There are amusing stories too: the time wine was used for communion instead of juice; bats flying around during choir practice; and the reason the church ceiling is so high – the windows arrived four feet higher than they were supposed to be. Audrey says, “In 1883 you didn’t send things back. You built around them!”
Gallant adds to these recollections, “When I was growing up … our church was booming with children and every empty space was used as a Sunday School classroom. Our church had a women’s bible study, a men’s group, young people’s group, and Christmas concerts. We had bake sales and served at banquets…. So many people put their heart and soul into our church giving all they could.”
It is that dedication and commitment that has made the decision to close so difficult. Gallant says, “God was calling us to a different path…. We all know that God has greater plans for us and we feel truly blessed that we have so many wonderful memories to hold onto.”
As all the members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian follow a new path, they remain deeply rooted and will continue to serve in faith with memories that will keep them connected, always, as family.
The final service of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church will be conducted by the Presbytery of Hamilton on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 3 p.m.
