A BRIEF HISTORY OF WESTMOUNT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Let's start at the beginning in 1968.

-Westmount Presbyterian Church was founded in May, 1968 by the late Rev. John Fox, who had previously founded Paulin Memorial Church in Windsor.

-He was appointed to explore the possibilities and lead the formation of a new congregation in the then sparsely-settled western fringe in London. Eighty-one potential members were identified through door-to-door visitation by members of the five person interim session and others willing to support the establishment of the new congregation. Rev. Fox was formally recognized by Presbytery in 1969 as Minister of the new congregation.

-This then was the beginning of this congregation in the Westmount area. Our neighbourhood has changed dramatically since then with the growth of multi-family and single housing areas and the expanded Westmount Mall.

-Our first services were held in two nearby schools and for special events we were offered the use of St Margaret's Anglican Church. We held our first services in our own building, still part of the structure, in December 1972 which area is now part of the John B.Fox Memorial Hall and it was dedicated five years after the congregations' inception. In the spring of 1975 we were sufficiently established and able to present a Call to Rev. John Fox and the "Mission" established was well on its way to becoming a self-supporting congregation.

-In 1982 our congregation mourned the death of Rev. John Fox. A Search Committee was formed under interim Moderator, Rev. John Marshall, and a Call was extended to Rev. Dr. Robert Robinson to come to lead our bereaved congregation. Under his guidance , we proceeded with the building of our sanctuary and its dedication was held on January 26, 1992. Perhaps this was the end of the beginning.

-We started with 81 members and our congregation has continued to grow. Parking is sometimes a problem at major events, but we overcome that situation by inviting everyone to park at the nearby Beer store!

-Rev. Robinson became the second Minister at Westmount in 1983 and many major decision for the congregation followed. But after 16 years of ministry, in 1999, he accepted a Call to Calvin Church in North Bay.

-Under the guidance of Rev. Karen Timbers, our Interim Moderator, a Search Committee was quickly formed in November, 1999. Profiles were received from Western Canada and Southwestern Ontario. The Committee travelled in teams to various locations but she wouldn't let any of us travel to Western Canada. Instead the committee travelled to Labatts and it was here via video-conferencing, made available by Labatts, that we did indeed interview a minister from Medicine Hat, Alberta and we now have our third minister - Rev. Michael Stol effective September 17, 2000. We are at the beginning again.

-We are a warm and welcoming congregation, we have an active and large session, we have a large choir, we have an active and mission minded church school; we do mission work outside the Church and have active groups for everyone of all ages.

Founded in 1968

Rev. John Fox - 1968-1982

Rev. Bob Robinson - 1983-1999

Rev. Michael Stol - 2000-