Our History

Into this situation in 1974 came a new minister, J. Glyn Owen. A Welshman who had ministered in Ireland and England, his preaching ministry attracted many young people who had come to Christ in the counter-culture Jesus Movement, and who were longing for solid biblical teaching. The multiculturalism of early Knox once again began to be very much in evidence. Owen was greatly appreciated as a pastoral counselor, while his loyal associate George Lowe went graciously in and out among the congregation, and in a special long-range way became pastor to the missionaries.

Upon Owen's retirement in the mid-1980s there was an extended vacancy, after which Mariano Di Gangi was called. American born and trained, he had ministered in Canada with great effectiveness at St. Enoch Church, Hamilton, during the 1950s, where his leadership of the Board of Evangelism and Social Action of the Presbyterian Church in Canada caused him to be appreciated in many sections of the denomination. After a period at Tenth Presbyterian, Philadelphia, he was Canadian Director of the Bible and Medical Missionary Fellowship. All of this expertise and experience he brought to Knox, until ill health caused him to retire in 1992.

After a three year vacancy Dr. John Vissers was inducted in 1995. The first Canadian-born minister of Knox in 175 years, he brought many of the qualities that have characterized ministers of Knox. He is theologically knowledgeable, having a doctorate in the field, and a deep commitment to orthodox, evangelical faith. He is a leader, and although young, is perhaps more respected by evangelicals in the Presbyterian Church than any other individual. He is concerned about the students and young people at our door. He is committed to the denomination and is concerned about its renewal. His task is to lead Knox into culturally relevant and spiritually powerful ministry as we move toward the next century.

In the summer of 1999, Dr. John Vissers accepted the call as principal of the Presbyterian College in Montreal.

The service of induction for our current Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. J. Kevin Livingston, was held on June 25, 2000. Kevin hails from Seattle and studied at Seattle University (B.A. Humanities). At Fuller Theological Seminary Kevin received his M.Div and he then went on to get his Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Kevin and his wife, Irene, love to travel - other cultures facinate them.

After a productive nine and a half year ministry, Dr. Livingston resigned to join the staff of Tyndale Seminary where he is pursuing two special interests- the formation of new ministers-to-be and research and writing in pastoral theology.

Currently, the congregation is under the oversight of Rev. Donal Pollock as Interim Moderator.

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