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Oakville Historical Society

Plaqued Houses

Also appearing in this Exhibit

47 Reynolds Street

Description

The church was built in 1840 for Catholic dock labourers in Oakville, on land supplied by William Chisholm. It is the oldest church in Oakville still in its original form.

Details

St. Andrew's Parish has a rich parish history. In fact it is a major part of the history of Oakville. Following early work by Father Gordon at "Stations" across a very extended territory, with headquarters at York, a mission was created at Oakville in 1836, with Father McDonagh in charge. The land for the building of the Church was given by William Chisholm, a Presbyterian. It is reported that assistance in building was supplied by Presbyterian Scots and it is in their honour that the name, St. Andrew, was assigned. The first Mass in the church was celebrated in October of 1840.

John Cavan, a carpenter, provided a great deal of the labour.

John Cavin’s spire is described by David and Suzanne Peacock (in "Old Oakville: A Character Study of the Town's Early Buildings and of the Men Who Built Them" - 1979) as an octagonal louvered loft over a short tower; it is 150 feet high. Underneath the church are hand-adzed pine beams, some at them 60 feet in length, set upon a mortarless stone foundation; the stumps of some of the pines cleared from the site are still underneath the floor boards, stone dry and hard. 

Hazel Mathews writes (in "Oakville and the Sixteen" - 1953) that St. Andrew's is the only church in Oakville which survives in its original form and is a charming example of the churches of Colonial design built In the western section of the province. If William Chisholm were to return to this earth, she adds, St. Andrew’s is the only public building in Oakville, which he would recognize. 

The church originally seated 200; about 1870 it was extended to accommodate 300. The only significant changes to the original building are a stucco covering on the original frame building and extension added about 1970.