Church union was first discussed in 1902 and finally came into being in 1925. A group of about 25 families resisted the union and formed a new Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's, when church Union took place on June 10, 1925. For close to three years the new congregation of
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church met in the Foresters Hall (which is now the Odd Fellows hall) before a new church, this one, was completed in 1928.
The wood frame church was built in a style reminiscent of turn of the century churches, with an outsized steeple on the side of the sanctuary also serving as the main entrance. The building has since been added on to, with a hall built to the north side of the steeple and sanctuary.
Services are held Sunday morning at 10:30.
The first proposal for church union, on a national scale, came in 1902. Negotiations began in 1904. Union was to be between the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists. The Anglican and Baptist denomination were invited to join in the process, but both declined. The basis for church union was completed in 1908. There was much opposition to be found in the Presbyterian Church of Canada. Locally, the Presbyterian congregation held two separate votes to decide whether or not to proceed. Both of the votes came out in favour of union.
On June 7, 1925 a joint service was held between the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations. On Wednesday June 10, 1925 a special service was held to mark the actual commencement of church union. The next Sunday, June 14, 1925, the first regular United Church service was held. The church building on the corner of Pleasant Valley Boulevard and Mill street became known as Zion United Church.
There was a small group of approximately 25 families from the Presbyterian Church that still resisted the move to the United Church. This group of dissidents was lead by four elders: Dr. K.B. McKechnie, Mr. J.H. Wilson, Mr. D.S. Long, and Rev. Wesley Akitt. Other influential members of the congregation including T.K. Smith and his brother Bill were also members of the dissident group. The remaining Presbyterians were paid $1000 for the loss of their building. They met in the Foresters Hall, now the Odd Fellows Hall, for three years before moving to their present building on the corner of Wright Street and Wolfenden Terrace in 1928.
From the Armstrong Heritage Register