History

Services were held at Bannerman House, Fort Normandeau prior to 1898

The first Presbyterian ministering on record in the area was done by the Reverend A.B. Baird, a missionary from a church in Edmonton.  His open-air ministering began in 1881 when he made occasional visits to the stopping house at the Old Crossing, west of Red Deer.

The first regular appointment to the area was Mr. A. Neilly in 1887, followed by the Reverend James Buchanan in 1891.  Buchanan made his headquarters in Innisfail and ministered to that village, the new village of Red Deer and other small communities.  A succession of students followed and in 1893, G.D. Ireland moved the ministry headquarters to Red Deer.

Services continued to take place in halls and schools in the vicinity until one of the student ministers - Mr. Barber - started the community drive to build a Presbyterian Church.

The 20 by 30 foot building was put together with a lot of volunteer labour and donated materials.  The completed building cost only $600, $540 of which had been raised by the time construction was finished.  It was officially opened and dedicated July 3, 1898 and the first service was in August.

By 1904 the original church already needed an addition and continued to be renovated over the years with another major addition in 1915.  Additions and renovations couldn't continue to be justified; therefore, in 1949 plans were discussed to build a new church.  Finances dictated the original site be sold and the church moved to its current site, which was donated.

Knox Presbyterian Church at 49 Ave & 49 St

Knox Presbyterian Church mid 1930s George Cornett with mother Jennie

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