 A
Knox Church Timeline
A Brief
History of Knox (Dr. Ian Rennie)
Knox Church, The Early Years (Dr. William Fitch)
A Knox Church Timeline
The first church building
The Queen Street church building
The present church building
Doors Open Tour
Stained Glass Windows at Knox
 A
Chart of Historical Memoranda
from Dr. William Fitch's book,
"Knox Church Toronto; Avant-Garde, Evangelical,
Advancing"
© 1971 William
Fitch
1820.
Rev. James Harris, of Belfast, preached his first sermon to the
Presbyterians of York. On Christmas Day, Mr. Jesse Ketchum gave the
congregation a gift of the site for their new Church.
1821. New brick church erected and called ''The
Presbyterian Church of York, U.C.'
1822. February 18th, new church formally opened.
Regulations for the government of the church drafted by committee headed by
Mr. Harris.
 1823.
July 23rd, induction of Rev. James Harris as Minister.
1844. After the Disruption in Scotland, some members
left St. Andrew's Church in sympathy with the principles of the Disruption.
They formed 'Knox Church.' On request of the 'York Presbyterian Church, U.C.',
the two groups formally merged into one and worshipped in the original
building given by Mr. Ketchum under the name of 'Knox Church.'
 1845.
May 23rd, Rev. Robert Burns of Paisley, Scotland, inducted as pastor. Rev.
James Harris retired on annuity.
1847. May
1?, church building burnt to the ground. June 4, congregation
unanimously votes in favour of erecting a new church building. July 19,
plans presented by architect William Thomas.
September 21, groundbreaking of new
Queen Street Church building.*
1848. September 3, new church opened.
1849. Bell purchased and placed in tower, December 15.
1856. Dr. Burns retired to fill chair of history in
Knox College. Vacancy lasted almost two years.
1857. By Act of Parliament, property vested in five
trustees.
 1858.
Rev. Alexander Topp, Edinburgh, called and inducted, September 16.
1859. Union between Presbyterian Church of Canada and
the United Presbyterian Church approved by the congregation.
1867. Deacons Court organized.
1870. Memorial tablet to Jesse Ketchum placed in wall
of church.
1871. Duchess Street Mission Chapel erected.
1873. Rev. James Harris, first Pastor of the Church,
and Elder in the congregation, died.
1874. New Bible School building completed. Basis of
Union for 'The Presbyterian Church in Canada' approved by congregation.
1875. Union of Churches.
1879. Death of Dr. Topp.
 1880.
Call to Rev. Henry Martyn Parsons, Buffalo, N.Y. Inducted April 15.
1881. Remodelling of the Church. Steps taken to install
organ.
1888. Jonathan Goforth farewelled from Knox, January
19.
1895. The Simpson Fire, Sunday,
March 3*. Steeple badly damaged
and removed.
1899. Trustees authorized to apply for legislation to
sell part of original property in order to acquire sufficient money for new
building.
1900. Dr. Parsons retires at end of April.
 1901.
Rev. Alexander B. Winchester inducted - January 15.
1904. October 1, Robert Simpson Company offer of
$200,000 for site, accepted.
1905. July
9*, Old Church demolished. Church worships in
Old School House.
1907. January 26, cornerstone laid of the new Knox
Church. The new building was designed by Knox member and
architect James Wilson Gray. Service was held in the
New School House.*
1909. January
10*, Opening of the
new Knox Church;
Rev. Francis L. Patton, D.D., L.L.D., President of Princeton Theological
Seminary, preached; Rev. Winchester delivered the address of Dedication and
offered the Dedicatory Prayer.
1913. January 14, Death of Dr. Parsons.
1920. Dr. Winchester intimated desire to retire.
Appointed 'Minister Extra Muros.'
 1921.
January 5, Rev. John G. Inkster called.
1925. United Church formed. 'Presbyterian Church
Continuing' constituted in Knox.
1929. Wall Street Crash.
1930. Onwards - the great depression.
1938. Dr. Inkster intimated desire to retire. Dr.
Winchester formally retired.
 1939.
September 11, Induction of Rev. T. Christie Innes.
1939. First presentation of the Toronto Scottish
Regimental Flags at Knox by the Queen Mother.
1943. Death of Dr. A. B. Winchester.
1944. February 28, Rev. T. Christie Innes farewelled.
1945. June to December, visit of Rev. Robert Barr,
Capetown.
1946. December 19, death of Dr. Inkster.
 1947.
April 9, induction of Rev. Robert Barr.
1953. September 11. Death of Mr. Barr.
 1956.
May 12, induction of Rev. William Fitch.
1959. Operation Community and Mission under Rev. Tom
Allan.
1960. December 18, Laying of Foundation Stone of New
Building by Harry E. Cooper.
1961. May 16, opening of Fellowship Centre.
1962. Mission under Dr. Leighton Ford. Commencement of
Summer Fellowship.
1965. Queen Mother presents the Toronto Scottish
Regimental Flags in a special service at Knox Church in June.
1967. Centennial Year. Visit of Dr. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones.
1969. Renovation of Evangel Hall.
1970. One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary and
Home-coming.
* Items marked in red with
asterisks are
corrections and additions to the original 1971 text by William Fitch,
details from various sources.
Hereafter, dates compiled by the church
office...
1972.
Rev. Fitch retires.
 1974.
Induction of Rev. J Glyn Owen.
1974. Queen Mother retires the Toronto Scottish
Regimental Flags at Knox.
1986. Rev. Owen retires.
 1987.
Rev. Mariano Di Gangi appointed interim
minister until 1989; in 1989, he was inducted as minister until 1992.
 1995.
Dr. John Anthony Vissers
inducted as senior minister.
1995.
One Hundred and
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. Knox Church website established by Gerry
de
Koning.
1999.
Dr. John Vissers leaves Knox to become
the principal of
the
Presbyterian College in Montreal
 2000.
Rev. J.
Kevin Livingston inducted as senior minister on June 25th.
2000.
Restoration of painted wood surfaces and doors around Knox begins
in December.
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