
St. Andrew’s United Church
St. Andrew’s United Church
Our place of worship in Rossland, BC.
Known as the “Red Roof Church“, once you arrive in Rossland unless it’s a foggy day, you can see St. Andrew’s United Church from most places in town.
In July 2017, a lease was negotiated for the use of their building with Visions for Small Schools Society to have a new campus in Rossland for the Seven Summits Centre for Learning. This relationship is ongoing.
The congregation continues to have access to their building for worship and special events.
A Little Bit of History
BC Memories: BC Conference Archives
St. Andrew’s United Church was founded in 1895 with the purpose of bringing the Presbyterian faith to the small mining town of Rossland, British Columbia. The first religious services were held on the last Sunday in May 1895, in a partially constructed butcher’s shop.
The first church was erected in Nickel Plate Flat and opening services were conducted on August 28, 1895. Although originally a Presbyterian church, St. Andrew’s would, in 1917, vote to unite with the Rossland Methodist Church (founded 1897). The name and church of St. Andrew’s were retained for the new church, however, Methodist ministers continued to lead “union” services from 1918-1925. After this time the church was referred to exclusively as St. Andrew’s United Church and United Church services and ministers were used. By the late 1960s, there was a spirit of growing cooperation with the local Anglican congregation, St. George’s. Negotiations with St. George’s Anglican Church regarding the sharing of services and buildings through a lease ended with a five-year lease being approved by both congregations in 1969. Shared services were held between St. George’s and St. Andrew’s until 1982, when St. George’s terminated the arrangement. Major renovations to the church building were completed by 1985. The church continued to grow into the 1980s, recording a membership growth and budget surplus by 1987.