As early as 1920, Belle Ashcroft set aside time and provided space for Sunday Worship. Pauline Orchard, a waitress, often performed as a soloist. A tribute to Mrs Ashcroft was placed in St Andrew's, for her name appears in the earliest parish records. By 1927 regular financial records were kept. Various people served as ministers and were sometimes given accommodation in lieu of salary. From the beginning the community worshipped together regardless of denominational ties at home. The little congregation struggled through the 30's and 40's, with an average of 6 services per summer. Collections were taken to give to churches that were bombed during the war. By 1947, a church building was needed. A year later Mr. Harry Hoogesteger organized fund raising with all summer visitors. The Anglican Diocese of Huron was considering building a church - efforts were pooled. On the Ashcroft's land sale, (lot 12, Con 5) acreage was set aside for a church.

With over $2500.00 (Andrew Jamieson Fund), and local donations, a white frame church was built by Wesley Richardson and his son, Howard. Gordon Hepburn built the altar, altar cross, pulpit and prayer desk. The leaded glass windows came from St. Thomas' Church, Walkerton. In July 1950, the Rev. E.K.. Bissell conducted the first services and introduced the Book of Common Prayer to the congregation. The first Board of Management consisted of Sydney Glazier as People's Warden, and Treasurer, Howard Richardson as Rector's Warden and Mrs. Miller as Secretary.  Mrs. Glazier, Mrs. Orchard, Miss Hunter and Mrs. Miller took responsibility for cleaning the church and altar duties.

The congregation held entertainments to raise money. They attempted to hold services in May and June, but these were never successful. As more people became aware of the church, it continued to grow. In 1959, a small cottage for the minister was built. The next year a branch of the Women's Auxiliary was organized by Mrs. Millman as president. The church is usually open from early June until Labour Day. For a number of years vacationing clergy, some from as far away as Latin America and Uganda stayed in the cottage and were responsible for the parish. In recent years, theology students from Huron College, University of Western Ontario, have looked after St. Andrew's as their summer placement, under the direction of the Rector in Wiarton. The Rev Margaret (Peg) Wheeler, at first a cottager, then a permanent resident, carried out strong lay ministry in the 70's and 80's before being ordained a Deacon by the Anglican Bishop of Huron.

1950-52    Rev GEK Bissell
1953-55    Rev MA Stephens
1956         Rev MA Stephens
1957         Rev RJ Crocker & George Hamilton (Montreal)
1958         Rev R Scoon 1959 Rev Chaplin Brooks
1960         Rev H Miller 1961 Rev Keith Brett
1962         Rev (Dr) M Parker 1963 Rev Odendahl & Dr & Rev Dymond Dymond
1964         Rev D Gray 1965 Rev D Gray & Handley R Perkins
1966         Rev P Ganden & 1967 Rev Wright WJ Harkin &CW Roof
1968         Rev DG Madge & 1969 Rev R Gestwicki F Tomkinson
1970         Rev Roy Webb & 1971 Rev Roy Webb & Allan AE Chovaz Barker
1972         Rev R Webb & 1973 Rev Scott & A Gibson & ED Jacques CE Ladds
1974         Rev Russell
1975         Rev T Handy & Larry Reese
1976         Rev Scott 1977 Rev Ben Mutana
1978         Rev R Bennett
1979         Rev Seagar & Tim Hill & John Martin

1980         Howard Gorle
1981         Paul Wheeler
1982         Rob Davis
1983         Steve Harnadek
1984         Kuruvilla (Sam) Thomas
1985         Wayne Taylor
1986         Donald "J" Koyle
1987         Steve Emery
1988         Sylvia Doran
1989         Robert Skelding
1990         John O'Dell
1991         Patricia Dobbs
1992         Mark Loyal
1993         Nancy Northgrave & Dave Hewitt
1994         Lynda Kealey
1995         Thelma Kudelka
1996         Gary Alcock
1997         Sue McCullough
1998         Don Alcock
1999         Christine Crawford
2000         Dwayne Bos
2001         Kendall Reimer

St. Andrew, whose feast day is November 30th, is the patron saint for fishermen. Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St.John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that Jesus was greater.  At once he left John to follow the Divine Master.  Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, "what do you seek?" When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, "Come and see." Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messiah.  From then on, he decided to follow Jesus.  Andrew was thus the first disciple of Christ.  Next, Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple.  At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time.  He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for good.  It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel.  He is said to have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed.  He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron - Russia and Scotland.
 
 

St. Andrew's Cross resembles the letter "X" in the English alphabet and is also referred to as the "saltier" or "Crux Decussata."  According to tradition Andrew, the brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross of this shape.  Andrew did not feel worthy enough to die on the same style of cross that Christ had died and requested a cross of another shape.  His request was granted and he was crucified upside down on a cross which now bears his name.  Rather than using nails to secure his limbs to the cross, Andrew was bound to the cross with ropes.  His suffering was thus prolonged.
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St. Andrew's Cross came into wide use during the Medieval Period and became the national cross of Scotland, since St. Andrew was the patron saint of Scotland.

Biblical References to St Andrew

Mark 1:16-20, 29 etc, 13:3ff
John 1:35-42, 6:8ff
Matthew 4:18-20

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