Our Ministers

January 28th, 1847 worship services were held at City Hall, The Rev. Dr R. F. Burns inducted as first Minister and two years later in 1849 the name of “Chalmers” was adopted. The first Church building “Chalmers Presbyterian Church” opened on Earl Street and was dedicated on June 8th 1851. Four years later The Rev. Dr R. F. Burns resigns.

On December 1st, 1855, David Blair Pierce is inducted as second Minister of Chalmers and faithfully serves until his resignation on March 19th1857. A year later; The Rev. Patrick Gray is inducted as third Minister of Chalmers on March 9th, 1858.

After approving the concept of Union of all Presbyterian churches in Canada early in1857, Chalmers entered into such a Union, forming the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1875. Seven years later Chalmers adopted and amended constitution, bringing us in line with that of the central church. Shortly after, The Rev. Patrick Gray died. on October 29th, 1876.On the following July 26th, 1877 The Rev. Finlay McQuaig is inducted as fourth Minister of Chalmers. After serving Chalmers for 11 years, he resigns and is replaced by The Very Rev. Dr Malcolm Macgillivray who is inducted as our fifth Minister on Sept. 13th, 1887

January 5th 1890, our present church building was opened and dedicated
The Very Rev. Dr Malcolm Macgillivray was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1915 and a couple of years later he resigns and is named Minister Emeritus. He is replaced by The Rev. Dr R. J. Wilson who becomes our sixth Minister on June 19th,1918

In 1922, Chalmers Presbyterian Church united with the First Congregational Church.
In October, 1923 The Rev. Dr R. J. Wilson resigns is replaced a few months later with The Rev. Dr George A. Brown who is inducted as seventh Minister of Chalmers on March 28th, 1924

One year later, Chalmers enters the Union of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, the Methodist Church of Canada and the Congregational Church of Canada, forming the United Church of Canada on June 10th, 1925

After serving the members of this new united church for 26 years, the Rev. George Brown resigns and is made Minister Emeritus of Chalmers. On Sept. 8th, 1950 The Rev. Dr W. Franklin Banister is inducted as our eighth Minister.

After 14 years of service to the people of Chalmers Rev. Dr Banister resigns on June 16th, 1964 and a decade later is named Minister Emeritus. Meanwhile, The Rev. Robert K.N. McLean becomes the ninth Minister of Chalmers on September 10th,1965. A year later Virginia Dobson is installed as Deaconess and on August 1st 1966 David Cameron became Music Director at Chalmers. In June 1969, Virginia Dobson resigns and is replaced by Margaret Quigley.as Deaconess.

On October 8th, 1972 Rev. McLean resigns and the following September, The Rev. Dr Stanford R. Lucyk becomes the tenth Minister of Chalmers. January 31st, 1978 the Rev. Stanford Lucyk and Margaret Quigley resign.

On September 14th, 1978, The Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson is inducted as our eleventh Minister and a couple of months later The Rev. Dr. Lois Wilson becomes Associate Minister of Chalmers. At the General Council Meeting in August, 1980, the Rev. Dr. Lois Wilson is elected Moderator of the General Council of the United Church of Canada and resigns as Associate Minister at Chalmers. In 1981 The Rev. David Logan is engaged as Ministerial Assistant at Chalmers. In 1983, both the Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson and the Rev. David Logan resign.

September 8th, 1983, The Rev. C. Wayne Hilliker, is inducted as twelfth Minister of Chalmers and that July 1st 1984, Joyce Holden is engaged as Associate in Ministry

February 21st, 1995, faulty wiring causes a fire in our church building resulting in extensive damage to organ console, pipes and chancel wall. Following repairs and restoration, the sanctuary is re-dedicated on December 10, 1995. Four months later, Chalmers sells Macgillivray-Brown Hall and adjacent lands to Queen’s University. The restoration of the organ is completed on April 18, 2003.

Meanwhile, after more that 15 years of ministry at Chalmers, Joyce Holden retires as Associate in Ministry on December 31st, 2000

In 2002, we welcome our thirteenth Minister The Rev. Sharon Cohoon, Minister of Christian Education and Pastoral Care as part of our pastoral team. On June 30, 2005, The Rev. C. Wayne Hilliker retires and is named Minister Emeritus.

June 2006, we call our fourteenth Minister, The Rev. Dr. Steven Chambers, who is installed in September of that year as our Minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care.

In June 2007, The Rev. Sharon Cohoon resigns and The Rev. Elaine Smith and Michelle Hawkins are contracted part time to co-ordinate Pastoral Care and Christian Education respectively..

Chalmers has been fortunate to have had many distinguished ministers duringing its years. The list includes:

• The Rev. Dr. R. F. Burns
• The Rev. Patrick Gray
• The Rev. Finlay McCuaig
• The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Macgillivary
• The Rev. Dr. R. J. Wilson
  
• The Rev. Dr. George A. Brown
• The Rev. Dr. Franklin Banister
• The Rev. Dr. Robert K. N. McLean
• The Rev. Dr Stanford Lucyk
• The Rev. Roy Wilson
• The Rev. Dr Lois M. Wilson
  
• The Rev. Dr. Wayne Hilliker