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In the Middle Ages "Going Behind the Red Door" meant, in part, to seek sanctuary from persecution in a church as a great many churches of the time had red painted doors. St. Andrew's door, centred in its large stone bell tower, is similarly painted red. Upon entering the church the first thing one may notice is the cross beamed ceiling, followed by the large stained glass window at the rear of the sanctuary, installed around 1966.
It was dedicated to the memory of
George Anson Thompson. Unfortunately, no information on Mr. Thompson has been forthcoming, though he may be buried in the Penticton Lakeview Cemetery.
St. Andrew's is a church begat by
Church Union in Canada, which officially took place on June 10, 1925. Church Union united Methodists, Congregationalists and 70 percent of the Presbyterians in Canada into the
United Church. When the United Church built a new church on the site of the old St. Andrew's Presbyterian in 1927, the Presbyterians who chose not to join the United Church bought a new lot and built this church, the cornerstone being laid in 1927. Compatible additions were made to the building in the 1970s
Some churches have worse luck than others when it comes to the criminal element. This is at least the fifth or sixth church we've visited over the years which has become the victim of vandalism. In this case the vandalism amounted to intentionally flooding the church's basement, causing in excess of $25,000 damage. See the beginning of the Penticton Western News article below.
Church hall flooded by vandals
STEVE KIDD - Wed Mar 2nd, 2016 2:00pm
Vandalism at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Penticton means some costly repairs, but isn’t forcing them to close their doors.
Sometime last Thursday night, vandals aimed a garden hose into a stairwell leading to the lower floor of the iconic stone church, where it was left to run overnight.
Pastor Colin Cross says they are getting over the shock of the vandalism.
”We are not used to people vandalizing churches. It is not something you really expect,” said Cross. “Whoever did this knew they could do a lot of damage, I guess. They aimed this hose right at the lower stairwell. It was right down there, turned full blast and so the water went in through the doors and away you go.”
Cross said he isn’t sure what the total bill for the damage is going to be.
“The floor is gone, $20-25 thousand, something like that?” he said. “I am not sure what the insurance claim will come in at.”
The vandalism was discovered by contractors working on another project, replacing the dormers in the steeple of the nearly 100-year old church...
Read on at the Penticton Western News![]()