(Thank you to Barbara Agar for researching and compiling this content.)
The United Church of Canada was founded in 1925 with the union of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, the Methodist Church, the Congregational Churches of Canada and the General Council of Local Union Churches. It became the largest Protestant church in Canada.
The United Church in Russell
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
1858 --The Free Presbyterian Church was built. This small church was located on Wade Road in Russell, just south of the bridge over the Castor River. All that remains is the church cemetery (Louck’s Cemetery) and the street sign – Luxemburg Rd. The settlement and church were founded by the Loucks family (United Empire Loyalists from Osnabruck) with the support of the Eadie, McGregor, Meharey and McLaren families.
1887 –A new Presbyterian church was built at 38 Mill Street to provide a larger building for a growing congregation. The name chosen for the new church was St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
1904 –The church manse was built at Mill and Parallel Streets to house their minister. Rev. Keith Brown was the last minister to live in the manse. It was sold in 2005 and is now a private residence.
St. Paul’s Methodist Church
1867 –The Wesleyan Methodist Church was built in Russell at Concession and Bank Streets. This location is where the Old Fire Hall/Russell Museum now stands. The families supporting the Methodist Church were Helmer, Stearns, Pillar, York, Lowrie, Carscadden, Fetterly, Robinson, Cumming, Young, Sullivan, Fader, Cochrane, Tweed, Boothe, Boyd and Dempsey.
1882 –A new larger church was built on the same property but further south at the corner of Concession and Church Streets. Historical information is sketchy due to the loss of records from St. Paul’s Methodist Church. The structure burned in a fire after it was no longer a church but served as a warehouse for a local merchant.
St. Andrew’s & St. Paul’s United Church (Russell United Church)
1925 –The United Church of Canada was formed. In small towns negotiations had been ongoing for the combining of several smaller congregations into a larger one under the umbrella of the United Church of Canada. In Russell St. Paul’s Methodist Church combined with 2/3rds of the Presbyterians of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church to form St. Andrew’s and St. Paul’s United Church.
For several years, the Presbyterians who did not wish to join the United Church, held their services in the Methodist Church on Concession Street.
1927 –The Sunday School hall was added to the original church structure.
1945 –The mortgage on the church was paid and a Burning of the Mortgage Ceremony was held.
1959 –North Russell United Church, on Route 100, closed with many of the members joining Russell United Church.
1962 –The house and property on Mill Street to the south-west of the church was purchased by Mr. Fred Higgins and the land donated to the church. This house had been vacant for many years and had to be demolished. This is the lawn area adjacent to the church sign.
1963 –Marvelville United Church closed with many of the members joining Russell United Church.
1971 –Vars United Church closed with many of the members joining Russell United Church.
1985 –McLaughlin Hall was completed during the ministry of Rev. McLaughlin. This is the area in the basement where the Russell Co-Operative Nursery School meets.
Note: This historical information was taken from a book written by Keith M. Boyd who was a local historian and a life-long member of our church. Our local museum on Concession Street at Church Street is named for him. This book was written to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Russell United Church and covers the period 1887 to 1987. The title of his book is Historical Sketch of Russell, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Congregation 1845-1925
The United Church Crest Explained
The crest, the official signature of The United Church of Canada, was originally designed by the Rev. Dr. Victor T. Mooney (a treasurer of the United Church), and officially adopted in 1944.
It is a spiritual and historic reminder of our church. Its oval shape is derived from the outline of a fish, a symbol of identity by early Christians. The initials of the words "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour" spell the Greek word for fish.
The crest is designed in the form of a St. Andrew's Cross with an insignia in each of the four corners. The "X" at the centre, the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, is a traditional symbol for Christ. In the four corners of the crest are symbols, three of which are particularly associated with the three communions—Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian—that united to form The United Church of Canada in 1925.
The open Bible represents the Congregational Churches with their emphasis upon God's truth that makes people free. From this communion we have a heritage of liberty in prophesying, love of spiritual freedom, awareness of the creative power of the Holy Spirit, and clear witness for civic justice.
The dove is emblematic of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:10) whose transforming power has been a distinctive mark of Methodism. Here our heritage is one of evangelical zeal, concern for human redemption, warmth of Christian fellowship, the testimony of spiritual experience, and the ministry of sacred song.
The burning bush is the symbol of Presbyterianism. It refers to the bush that burned and was not consumed (Exodus 3:2), and symbolizes the indestructibility of the church. From Presbyterianism we have received a heritage of high regard for the dignity in worship, the education of all people, the authority of scripture, and the church as the Body of Christ.
The symbols alpha and omega in the lower quarter are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They symbolize the eternal living God, in the fullness of creation (Revelation 1:8).The Latin words ut omnes unum sint that surround the symbols on the crest mean "That all may be one" and are taken from John 17:21. They are a reminder that we are both a "united" and "uniting" church.
In 1980, a French translation of The United Church of Canada—L'Église Unie du Canada—was authorized by General Council to be added to the crest.
In August of 2012, at the 41st General Council, The United Church of Canada acknowledged the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal peoples in the United Church by revising the church's crest. The crest changes include incorporating the colours often associated with the Aboriginal Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel, which reflects respect for diversity and interdependence, is often represented in the four traditional colours of yellow, red, black, and white, which incorporate important teachings from the four directions, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. The placement of these colours will vary according to the traditions of the nation. The Medicine Wheel teaches us to seek balance in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the circle of life. The crest changes also include the addition of the Mohawk phrase "Akwe Nia'Tetewá:neren" [aw gway-- nyah day day waw-- nay renh], which means "All my relations."
This information is taken from the United Church of Canada website: http://united-church.ca/history/crest
The History and Evolution of Music in Russell United Church
In 1925, the majority of the Presbyterian congregation and the Wesleyan Methodist Congregation joined under the umbrella of the new United Church of Canada in the Village of Russell. These were two quite different denominations with quite different forms of worship. Wesleyan Methodist worship was typically characterized by vibrant singing, heartfelt prayers and dynamic preaching. The Presbyterian worship, on the other hand, tended to be more structured and focused on the preaching of the Word.
In the late 1800s, pump or reed organs were not yet available in local churches. A designated Precentor would use a tuning fork to start singing during worship. All music in the church would be voices only. In 1925, when Union was finalized, our church would have had a reed or pump organ. In 1946, our first electric organ was purchased. 1962 brought the acquisition of a new electric organ with chimes which were connected to a device on the church roof to broadcast the sound of the chimes over the rooftops. Parishioners could hear the chimes calling them to worship before service and sending them safely home after service. This was unusual for a small community.
In 1979, our current organ was purchased after considerable fundraising as it was a very expensive and extravagant item. It still gives quite a magnificent sound and we are very lucky to have it for our worship.
We have had many accomplished and dedicated Musical Directors over the years. Our longest serving Organist and Choir Director was Leila Twiname. She served for 38 years (1938-41). She presided over a Junior Choir of 20 children and a Senior choir averaging 30 members for most of her tenure. Her junior choir was formed in the early 1950s and its busy schedule included singing at hospitals, nursing homes and other local churches. Several of her senior choir members still attend our church.
Senior Choir (1983)
The United Church of Canada provides a resource publication with guidelines for Musicians, Communities of Faith and Committees within the church. The booklet is called “The Ministry of Music in The United Church of Canada” and it exists to promote, support, and advance music ministries. The voice of the music leader plays an important role in many aspects of congregational life.
United Church Women (UCW)
Women have always played an integral role in the life of the church. From as early as the nineteenth century, women worked as teachers, missionaries and nurses, providing care in communities. As time went on, fundraising and social function organizing were also added to the women’s roles.When the United Church officially formed in 1925, the Ladies Aid (LA), later the Woman’s Association (WA), and the Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) were doing work at home and abroad. The WA focused on supporting the local church and community, while the WMS was more involved with education and world mission.In 1953, the General Council of the United Church of Canada set out to study the goal of formally recognizing the work and contribution of United Church Women. The WA and WMS came together to form the UCW on January 1, 1962.
The UCW’s purpose is: To unite women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which they may express their loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.
Across the country 300,000 women joined as charter members with UCW representatives participating at all levels of United Church structure. Since the inauguration of the UCW, many projects have been initiated and completed, from worship and Bible study, to sending barrels of clothing overseas, to supporting the Mission and Service of the United Church of Canada with more than $129 million in contributions. Membership is open to any woman who is in agreement with the Purpose of the United Church Women and who is willing to participate on a regular basis. Each local is responsible for the workings of their group following the guidelines set out in the UCW Handbook.
UCW-led service celebrating the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada (March 2, 2025)
Russell United Church’s UCW is always working behind the scenes helping to provide food, fun and funds wherever needed. Providing refreshments for fellowship after worship is compliments of the UCW. But that is just one service they provide. These ladies also decorate the sanctuary for the various seasons of the year; they plant and tend the gardens around the church; bake for our annual bake sale; organize fundraising events throughout the year; purchase equipment for the church and contribute to the church’s General Fund as well. Their joyful camaraderie brings pleasure to every event in which they are involved.
Our Ministers
Russell United Church has had 12 official pastors:
A.P Menzies 1925-1930; Donald C. Munro 1930-1933; Thomas McNaught 1933-1959; Norman Hair 1959-1962; Bruce McMartin 1962-1969; Leonard Woolfrey 1969-1979; Ken McLaughlin 1979-1984; Keith Brown 1984-2004; George LeDrew 2004-2006; Suzanne Sykes 2006-2008; Jack Lovering 2009-2018; Peter Dahlin 2019-2023.
According to the United Church of Canada’s Standards of Practice for Ministry Personnel, Ministry personnel are responsible for: leading, guiding, and supporting the community of faith in the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ; they touch people’s lives at various points of joy, pain, celebration, and vulnerability; they do this in a variety of ways—by leading in worship, by providing pastoral care, by standing with those who suffer, and by working for justice and peace.
At Russell United Church, we have celebrated those pastors who have shown us these qualities and more over the last 100 years.
Rev. A. P. Menzies was our first United Church minister. He was born in Ottawa and saw action in France during WWI and was wounded at Vimy Ridge. He loved to walk and was a good visitor. It was his duty to oversee the blending of the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations. As many of the Presbyterian members were not in favour of union and chose to still worship as Presbyterians, they found themselves without a place to worship. They were very unhappy that the church that they had helped to build was no longer accessible to them as it would now be the Russell United Church. Rev. Menzies used all of his negotiating skills and compassion to ease their pain. Under Rev. Menzies’ watch, money was received from the Metcalfe United Church Board as fair payment for the use of the Manse in Russell . With this windfall, the Russell United Church Board commenced the construction of our Sunday School Hall in 1927.
To make the project affordable, the new hall was built by members of the congregation. The congregation held Rev. Menzies in high regard . At his farewell gathering it was said that, “He possessed a heart of Christian love and sympathy mixed with a keen sense of humour that helped to keep alive joy and hope even under depressing circumstances”. He left Russell in 1930 to become the pastor of Westboro United Church, in Ottawa, and remained there until his death in 1948.
Rev. Donald C. Munro came to Russell in 1930. He was a graduate of University College in Toronto and studied at Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities in the UK. He was active with the Youth Group during his stay in Russell. He left in 1933.
Rev. Thomas McNaught was born in Scotland and his family emmigrated to Montreal in 1900. During his 25 years in Russell he was able to bring stability and strength to Russell United Church and was beloved by the whole community. One cannot think of Mr. McNaught without recalling his sincerity and devotion as a humble follower of Jesus Christ. Rev. McNaught moved to Martintown in 1958 where he continued as a retired supply minister. (In 1937, Barbara Agar’s mother and father, Ken & Annie Graham, were married at the Russell Manse by Rev. McNaught .)
Photo: Rev. McNaught with the Women's Association Executive (which became the United Church Women) in 1945.
Rev. Norman Hair was called to Russell United Church in 1959. He was born in Scotland and was only in Russell for three years. In this time he became well liked and provided excellent spiritual leadership.
Rev. Bruce MacMartin was born in Martintown where he did some farming before attending Queen’s University and Montreal United Theological College. He accepted the charge in Russell in 1962. He had a keen interest in youth work and it was during his ministry in Russell that the Couple’s Club was organized.
Rev. Leonard Woolfrey was born in Newfoundland and started life as a fisherman. He served in Russell for 10 years and retired to Morewood in 1979.
Rev. Ken McLaughlin was born in Pembroke. In 1950, while serving in the army during the Korean War, he made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. He came to Russell United Church in 1979 and, it was said, enjoyed sports and working with the Youth Group. In 1983-84, through the determination and hard work of Rev. McLaughlin, the basement under our church sanctuary was completed. It now provides facilities for the Russell Cooperative Nursery School. In 1985, this new area was dedicated as McLaughlin Hall.
Rev. Keith Brown was born near Napanee and attended Queen’s University. He came to Russell with his wife Nan and their two children in 1984. Rev. Brown introduced the taping of the morning service to make it available to shut-ins and the sick, reestablished the CGIT, started a Junior Choir, Bible Study groups, Vacation Bible School, a Teen Youth Group, the Nursery and Scouting organizations in the church.
In 2004, Rev. Brown retired and was replaced by Rev. George LeDrew who came to us as an interim pastor. (The role of an interim pastor is to help a church through the process of change in pastoral leadership.) Rev. Brown had been the pastor here for 20 years and it was a huge adjustment for many of our members when he retired. Rev. LeDrew was our pastor for two years and left us in 2006.
Rev. Suzanne Sykes was called to Russell United Church in 2006 and left in 2008.
Rev. Cyril Cook, a retired minister, was with us until 2009. He was very well liked by the congregation.
Rev. Jack Lovering was with us for nine years. Jack moved from the Leamington area and his wife Melodee was a lay minister at Parkdale United Church in Ottawa. Jack was a kind and compassionate pastor beloved by all. He left Russell in 2018 to return to Leamington.
Rev. Peter Dahlin came to Russell in 2019 and took retirement in 2023.
We have been searching for a new minister for the past 18 months. Until we find a new minister, our services are being led by retired United Church ministers Rev. Bruce Peterkin and Rev. Ed Barbezat, whose leadership is greatly appreciated by our congregation.
We have been blessed with wonderful pastors over the years.
