Church History

Our Protestant church at 291 Plaunt Street South has deep roots in Renfrew’s pioneer history, going back 180 years. Generations have come here to worship in our friendly, affirming congregation as well as to share fellowship and to participate in community volunteerism.

In the 1840s, Francis Xavier (F.X.) Plaunt owned a 200-acre farm on the hill overlooking a small “Renfrewville” with 42 residents. He donated the land for Catholic and Protestant churches to be built on adjoining plots. Wooden framed churches were first erected on the two sites. The congregations grew in size and in the 1880s, two stone places of worship were built. One of them - St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church - has flourished at its 331 Plaunt Street location for 180 years.

Our Plaunt Street location once housed the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The churches participated in the historic national union of 1925, which led to our Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church.

Our original stone building, a Renfrew landmark, was destroyed by fire in 1986 but was rebuilt in a three-year campaign. The community rallied to offer support and our services were held temporarily in the town’s recreation centre.

Lost in that fire were brass plaques which listed the 26 names of congregation members who died in the First and Second World Wars as well as the 333 names of those who served in both world wars. Two congregation members rediscovered the full lists of names and successfully reproduced the two large honour rolls now hanging in our church.