Spring is a time for growth and renewal. It is a time to look forward with fresh perspectives and plans for the year. As our community marks the one-year anniversary of the closure of St. Andrew’s on the Square, we can look forward to good things ahead for a building that embodies the meaning of resilience and grace in the face of challenging moments, highlighting what it means to be historic.
By 1991, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was in a period of decline. Recognizing the church’s historic significance, the City of Kamloops purchased it to prevent further ruin. By the mid-90s, through the incredible efforts of volunteers and the Kamloops Heritage Society, St. Andrew’s on the Square was fully restored to its historic self, fulfilling the original mission to open to the public as a place to convene, return to year after year, and gather as a community.
Understanding and appreciating all those who have taken such good care of St. Andrew’s on the Square, the City has crafted a restoration plan that respects the church’s historical significance and supports a vision for its future to be back with the community for generations to come. In collaboration with the community, including the Kamloops Heritage Society and the Heritage Engagement Group, St. Andrew’s on the Square will be restored as a welcoming and inclusive heritage building.
In spring 2024, artifacts were salvaged, inventories were created, walls came down to the studs, and internal committees were formed to assess the damage and plan for the future. Building engineers, trades, and insurance were consulted, and plans were made. Further work was performed in the fall and winter to preserve the structure. Architectural and design plans have been crafted to capture the historic beauty, charm, and grace of the building, and construction is planned to begin this summer. Our ambitious goal is to have this beloved building open again by the end of this year.
Our community will return to and gather at St. Andrew’s on the Square. We will commemorate and celebrate its historic reopening and make every effort to continue to cherish this beloved jewel in our downtown core.
During the upcoming May 2025 Heritage BC Conference co-hosted by the Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park, part of the Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Language and Culture Department, and the Kamloops Museum and Archives, conference delegates will join in a session that discusses the church’s rich history. This history is also shared in the Kamloops Museum and Archives’ newest Downtown Kamloops Heritage Walking Tour, which is free and accessible to all Kamloops residents in the form of a brochure and QR code housed in the Kamloops Museum and Archives’ lobby starting May 21, 2025.
Photo credit: Beth Taylor | OKGN Co
