St. Giles Presbyterian Church (Ottawa)

St. Giles Presbyterian Church (Ottawa, Ont.) was established in 1925 and was made up of non-concurring Presbyterians from several Ottawa churches. The congregation began by opening a Sunday School on January 18, 1925 with 57 pupils. Shortly after, they began to meet for worship in the Seventh Day Adventist church on Fifth Street. The Rev. Archibald G. Cameron was appointed by the Presbytery to guide the new congregation. On June 30, 1925, St. Giles was granted full congregational status. In February of 1928, the Rev. Archibald Cameron was inducted as the first minister. A new church building was constructed and dedicated May 5, 1929. The congregation built a Christian Education Centre in 1955. Cushman Memorial Presbyterian Church (Hull, Quebec) amalgamated with St. Giles in June of 1995.[1]

The current St. Giles Presbyterian Church building, found at 181 First Avenue, was designed by architect John Pritchard MacLaren from 1927 to 1929. A hall, and offices are found across the street from the church at 174 First Avenue with a plaque naming it Logan-Vencta Hall. The building belonged to the church but was sold when it became surplus to needs. Erected by the church, a bronze plaque is dedicated to the members of the congregation who were killed or served during the Second World War.[2]

In the Cushman Memorial Church remembrance area at the back of the sanctuary of St. Giles is an honour roll from Zion Presbyterian Church, Hull. Zion's wooden church was built in 1872. In 1924 it was replaced by Cushman Memorial Church. On the honour roll is listed Alexis Helmer. Lieutenant Helmer was killed at Ypres on May 2, 1915 at the age of 22. According to a witness, Helmer's friend Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae began writing his iconic poem, In Flanders Field, in an attempt to compose himself following the burial.

• J. Logan-Vencta, St. Giles of Ottawa 1925-1975 (Ottawa, 1975)

• Official website

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