Kimbourne Park United Church had its early beginnings with the organizing of a Sunday School in a rented house on January 5th 1913. In this same house on Sept 7th 1913 the late Re. J.A. Miller conducted the first evening service, and Greenwood Presbyterian Mission was inaugurated.
In November 1913 Mr. W. Graham, a student at Knox College was appointed to take charge of pastoral visitation and other duties. A site having been obtained at the south east corner of Greenwood and Queensdale Avenues early in 1914, a group of men decided to build a small frame church with their own labour in their spare time. During the summer, while the new building was being constructed, the rented house burned down and the congregation met in a tent until the new church could be finished.
On November 22nd 1914 the new building was formally opened by Prof. Davidson D.D. Soon after the Rev. D.M. Ramsay D.D. of Knox College was appointed as acting pastor, continuing the evening services. Dr, Ramsay remained until 1920 during which time two additions to the building were required.
Mr. C.D. McLellan, a final year student at Knox College took charge of the congregation in April 1920, and started morning services. Mr. McLellan was ordained in this Mission church in May 1921, and a year later when Greenwood was made an augmented charge, was inducted as minister.
The congregation continued to grow steadily and it was found necessary to erect a new building at Greenwood Avenue and Glebeholme Boulevard
This was opened on January 7th, 1923. During the ministry of Rev. McLellan, the church was led into church union and as Greenwood United Church continued to expand, the Rev. E. G. Robb, M.A., came to Greenwood in June, 1926. Shortly after Mr. Robb's ministry got under way it became apparent that Donlands and Greenwood United Churches were too close together. It had been originally planned to combine the two congregations, but both had grown larger than had been anticipated and Donlands had already enlarged their building.
A much larger building for Greenwood became a necessity and in discussions with Toronto East Presbytery it was suggested that the congregation move to a site that the Presbytery had already purchased on Wolverleigh Boulevard, near Coxwell Avenue. To this the Congregation agreed and a building committee with Mr. H. S. Hoult as Chairman was set up to plan for the new Church and arrange for its financing.
It was decided to build the church as a complete unit rather than erect a smaller building and arrange for later additions. That decision was wise has been evident over the years, and to Rev. Mr. Robb, Mr. Hoult and their advisers a great debt of gratitude is due for the magnificent edifice which is now our heritage.
On Mr. Hoult's suggestion the name was changed to Kimbourne Park United Church. Kimbourne Park was the name of the original sub-division, the name Kimbourne being in the Harris family, previous owners of the land.
The first sod was turned by Mr. C. J. Kennedy, senior elder of the church on March 14th, 1929, and on May 11th of the same year the cornerstone was laid by Mr. Hoult. Rev. E. G. Cobb was in charge of proceedings with Rev. Dr. R. Laird, treasurer of the United Church and Mr. J. Harris, M.P., as speakers.
The new building was opened and dedicated on Sunday, October 20th, 1929. Led by the Scouts' Bugle Band and the Sunday School orchestra the staff and children of the Sunday School marched from the old building to the new to the strains of "Onward Christian Soldiers", and other stirring airs. When the doors were opened a little girl, June M. Clune, was chosen to lead the congregation into the new Sanctuary for the first service.
Special services continued on October 27th and November 3rd with outstanding guest speakers. Kimbourne Park was successfully launched on a career of service to the community and the Glory of God. Mr. Robb was with Kimbourne Park until 1933 at which time the Rev. A. G. Donald, M.C., became pastor.
Mr. Donald's ministry embraced a very difficult period. Coming at the depth of the depression a great many problems had to be solved, and before the end of his stay with us Kimbourne Park was again well on its way.
A special event on 1935 was the gift to the church of the beautiful Casavant Pipe Organ by the Kimbourne Park Women's Association. On October 20th of that year at the Service of Dedication the organ key was presented by Mrs. Herbert Hawkey, president of the Women's Association. As a prelude to the evening service a brief organ recital was given with Mrs. R. K. Williams at the console. On Monday evening, a recital was presented by G. D. Atkinson, assisted by the soloists and choir of Sherbourne United Church. This was an occasion long to be remembered.
The Rev. Albert Johnson came to us in November 1939, soon after the outbreak of war. During the months that followed an Honour Roll Committee was formed to look after the interests of the boys in the Services. A monthly letter was forwarded detailing the activities of the church. Their parents were visited regularly and accounts of these visits were also included in the letters.
Twenty four of our number made the Supreme Sacrifice. Their names are enshrined in our hearts and memories. An important feature at this time, instituted by Mr. Johnson was the formation of a temperance movement among the younger folk. Through visiting young peoples' groups in other churches the movement spread and eventually under the guidance of the Ontario Temperance Federation developed into the Toc Alpha Group, which to-day is still flourishing and expanding.
Mr. Johnson left us in 1944 to assume General Secretaryship of the Ontario Temperance Federation, and was followed by the Rev. J. A. Pue-Gilchrist, B. A. Early in Mr. Pue-Gilchrist's ministry the need for a Christian Education Centre became apparent. A campaign was organized to raise funds for this purpose. Some $20,000 was subscribed, but it was felt that this was not sufficient to erect a building to meet the church needs, and that plan be left in abeyance until further money was available. In the meantime another matter demanded attention. At the time of the building of the church a loan had been granted by the Board of Home Missions to the amount of $15,000 secured by a second mortgage interest free, and to be paid off at a later date. An appeal was made to the congregation and the money was raised within three years.
At the Congregational meeting on January 28th, 1954 a very interesting ceremony was held when in the presence of several original members of the church, (Mr. And Mrs. H. S. Hoult, Mr. And Mrs. F. Beard, Mr. And Mrs. A. H. Sutherland, Mrs. W. F. Hannah, Mrs. R. W. Sutherland, Mr. R. B. Mills) Rev. J. C. Torrance of the Board of Home Missions handed over the mortgage. This was given to Mr. Mills who burned it in a receptacle provided for the purpose.
In an exchange in the summer of 1954 Rev. Carman Armstrong, B.A., B.D., came to Kimbourne Park, Mr Pue-Gilchrist going to Smith's Falls. Under Mr. Armstrong's leadership the church again undertook the task of acquiring the much needed Christian Education Centre. In 1955 the Wells Organization was called in to formulate plans for raising the necessary funds. Sufficient money was pledged to warrant an early start on the long delayed project. With Page and Steele as architects and a Building Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. H. Tufts, the plans for the present beautiful building were completed.
After the morning service on Sunday, June 17th 1956 the congregation proceeded to the old tennis courts for the ceremony of sod turning. Mr. Fred Terry presented a suitable engraved silver shovel to Mr. R. B. Mills who turned the first sod. A second sod was turned by Mr. C. J. Kennedy who had officiated at the turning of the first sod for the building of the church some 28 years before.
Three months later on September 17th the corner stone was laid by Mr. R. J. Russell, assisted by Mr. H. S. Hoult and dedicated. Work progressed rapidly and on March 5th, 1957 the Christian Education Centre was ready for the work so long desired. After the morning service the congregation proceeded with the singing of "The Church's One Foundation" to the new building for the ceremonies of dedication. A victory congregational dinner was held on Monday evening with the Moderator and other church dignitaries in attendance. It was a great occasion celebrating another step forward in the church's work.
A fitting climax to 50 years of Service was the dedication on Sunday, October 14th of a beautiful stained glass window to the memory of Mrs. Ethel McBeath, former church secretary. Depicting the "Good Shepherd" it was a wonderful tribute to one beloved by all. In changing times and facing grave problems we look forward with God's help to continued progress and service in our community.
