The Presbyterian congregation began construction of St. Andrew's Church on July 1, 1892. On the third Sunday in October 1892 the Church was officially opened and William Hawley, the senior elder at the time, laid the corner stone for the white frame building which would grace the shores of Calabogie Lake. The Church was lit by coal oil lamps and heated with two large wood stoves. It was the responsibility of various members of the congregation to attend the Church early on Sundays to light the stoves so that the Church would be warm for services. There was a stable at the back and a manse was provided for the Minister and his family.
A recommendation was made under the authority of the co-operating committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, General Conference of the Methodist Church and Congregational Union of the Congregational Church on Thursday, August 30th, 1917 that the Presbyterians at Calabogie discontinue services at Calabogie, if the Methodist Church (located beside Hillcrest Cemetery on a half acre of land donated by Thomas Church) could supply a place of worship. On July 9, 1918 the following informal agreement was signed between the two Churches entitled "Articles of Agreement - Plan of Cooperation Between the Methodist and Presbyterian Congregations of Calabogie, Ontario":
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I. IT IS HEREBY AGREED BY THE PARTIES CONCERNED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CONGREGATIONS SHALL CO-OPERATE UNDER A PASTOR APPOINTED BY THE MONTREAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.
II. THIS CO-OPERATING CHARGE SHALL BE AFFILIATED WITH THE PEMBROKE DISTRICT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.
III. THE PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL BE HELD AS FOLLOWS:
EVERY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, EVERY SUNDAY EVENING IN THE METHODIST CHURCH. EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT TATTY HILL AND PINE GROVE. ALTERNATELY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SHALL BE HELD EVERY SUNDAY MORNING IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ALL OTHER SERVICES TO BE ARRANGED AS THE PASTOR IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMITTEE MAY DECIDE.
IV. THE MEMBERS IN FULL STANDING OF THESE TWO CHURCHES SHALL HAVE SIMILAR STATUS IN THE CO-OPERATING CHARGE BUT SHALL RETAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RESPECTIVE DENOMINATIONS TO WHICH THEY NOW BELONG.
V. SEPARATE ROLLS OF MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE KEPT IN WHICH THE NAMES OF ALL WHO ARE NOW MEMBERS SHALL BE ENTERED AND ALSO THOSE WHO HEREAFTER, ACCORDING TO THEIR CHURCH PREFERENCE MAY UNITE.
VI. IT IS DESIRED THAT THE CHOIRS OF THE TWO CONGREGATIONS SHALL UNITE TO ASSIST IN ALL THE SERVICES OF THE CO-OPERATING CONGREGATIONS.
VII. THE MEMBERS OF EACH CONGREGATION SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT AND ARE REQUESTED TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE MISSIONARY AND OTHER CONNEXIONAL FUNDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DENOMINATIONS. SPECIAL ENVELOPES TO BE PROVIDED FOR SUCH OFFERINGS WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN WHEN THE PASTOR AND COMMITTEE MAY ARRANGE.
VIII. THE COST OF REPAIRS, INSURANCE AND THE GENERAL UPKEEP OF EACH CHURCH PROPERTY SHALL BE MET BY THE CONGREGATION TO WHICH SUCH PROPERTY BELONGS.
IX. THE HEATING, LIGHTING AND CARE OF THE CHURCHES SHALL BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COMMITTEE.
X. A COMMITTEE OF SIX CONSISTING OF THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE TWO CONGREGATIONS SHALL HAVE CHARGE OF ALL MATTERS, FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE, PERTAINING TO THIS PLAN OF CO-OPERATION. THE PASTOR SHALL BE EX-OFFICIO CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE.
XI. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL DATE FROM JULY 1, 1918, AND SHALL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR ONE YEAR WHEN IT MAY CEASE, CONTINUE, OR BE CHANGED AS A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CO-OPERATING CONGREGATIONS MAY DECIDE, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE PEMBROKE DISTRICT OF THE METHODIST CHURCH AND THE PRESBYTERY OF RENFREW AND LANARK. THE COMMITTEE IN CHARGE SHALL CALL A MEETING OF THE PEOPLE CO-OPERATING, ON OR NEAR THE FIRST OF MAY 1919 TO CONSIDER AND DECIDE UPON THE FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION CONCERNING THIS PLAN OF CO-OPERATION.
XII. IT IS EARNESTLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL MEMBERS AND ADHERENTS OF THESE TWO CHURCHES SHALL CORDIALLY AND HEARTILY
UNITE IN SEEKING TO MAKE THIS PLAN OF CO-OPERATION HEREIN SET FORTH OF GREAT BENEFIT TO ALL CONCERNED, HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND FOR THE PERMANENT UPBUILDING OF THE KINGDOM OF OUR COMMON LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
THE ABOVE PLAN OF CO-OPERATION WAS CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED AT A UNITED MEETING HELD IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CALABOGIE, ONTARIO, ON TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1918.
REV. JAS. TAYLOR, CHAIRMAN.
REV. W.H. STEVENS, SECRETARY
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The two churches alternated morning and evening services until in 1925 the Methodist Official Board asked the congregation to decide the fate of the Methodist Church. It was agreed that the church would be closed.
On June 10, 1925 the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches joined together and formed the United Church. The white clapboard building on the Village side of the Lake was chosen as the site for the newly united congregations because of its beautiful setting.
The Church spire was struck by lightning in August of 1930 and some members of the charge were rumoured to have believed that a few "would be Christians" were "getting a message from God to smarten up". It was never reported whether attendance improved on Sundays after that or not.
The interior of the Church was decorated by Mr. Oilsner in 1935; and the members of the community painted the outside of the Church in 1936 carried out other repairs in 1937 and in 1938 put on a new roof. This would appear to have been the first major work done on the Church from the time it was built in 1892. The original design of the Church was always maintained until 1955 when a vestry and choir room were added.
In 1947 the Charge joined with White Lake and Burnstown to form the three point charge it is today - Calabogie, White Lake and Burnstown - the White Lake Pastoral Charge.
As time went by it became increasingly obvious that there was a need for the Church to have a building of its own for concerts, church dinners, Sunday School and other events. The dream of a Christian Education Building began. During 1964, fund raising events took place; construction started on the 40 x 60 foot addition on November 1, 1964 and by 1965 the building was completed. The building's design was drawn up by Russell Gagnon of Calabogie.
In 1979, the members of the church once again completed a major restoration of the Church, this time on the outside. The large open bell tower and tall spire were eliminated and a shorter, completely enclosed spire and bell tower were erected. The building was completely insulated and rewired, aluminium storm windows were installed and white aluminium siding put on the exterior. A flower bed and front wall of natural field stone now enhance the appearance of the Church. A well was also dug to supply water to the Christian Education Building. A tremendous amount of work but the results were worth the efforts expended by everyone.