File:Knox Presbyterian Church after the fire of 1940. (14185065072).jpg

English: Knox Church was the 2nd Presbyterian church in Hamilton. A number of members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church seceded from that church and formed their own which they called Knox Presbyterian. They began building at the north east corner of James and Cannon in 1845 with the cornerstone laid by Isaac Buchanan and opened in April of 1846. It was a Roman style of architecture. The original church could hold 800 but that rapidly became too small and they expanded in 1849 and 1856. The Sunday School building opened in 1886. The church was completely renovated in 1919. On December 1, 1940 Dr. Banks Nelson, the minister of the church as well as a city controller, gave one of his popular lectures that packed the church on Sunday evenings. The subject was “Fire”.

Two days later, on December 3, 1940 the church was completely destroyed by a massive fire that caused $100,000 worth of damage [twice the insured value] The congregation renovated the Sunday School hall to use as both a church and Sunday school removing the classrooms and gymnasium and adding pews. George Stroud donated a pipe organ. A fellowship hall and kitchen were added in the basement. Over the years membership declined and by 1971 was down to 50. The last service was held in the church on September 26th and the church closed.

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