Laidlaw Memorial United Church
Laidlaw History
There were mud streets and farmers fields in Crown Point when the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Laidlaw was minister of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Downtown Hamilton. A graduate of Princeton Seminary, he taught at the University of Toronto. In 1893, he suffered the devastating loss of his wife, and not long after, died of a lung ailment October 24, 1895. Dr. Laidlaw’s legacy, a Mission he had started on Mary Street, was sold. The funds were given to the Ottawa St. Mission, now Laidlaw Memorial United Church.
The present church edifice was completed in 1912 and dedicated in October, as Laidlaw Memorial Institutional Presbyterian Church. Total cost was $20,000.
The church is built as a Roman Style Temple, with a steeple reminiscent of a lighthouse. Two great pillars, Joachim and Boaz, standing guard at the entrance. At that time, stepping out on the front stair, you would have looked down Ottawa Street to the docks, where the cloth sold in the Ottawa Street shops would be unloaded. The church was oriented east-west (almost exactly 18 degrees Azimuth). This proved useful decades later when solar panels were installed on the roof.
Shortly after the church was built, twenty-six young men from Laidlaw Memorial were killed in the First World War. This was great blow to the new congregation. It also had a financial impact, delaying the repayment of the church’s mortgage for many years. The depression and Second World War brought further losses. Laidlaw Memorial cherishes the memory of those who laid down their lives for us all.
In 1925, between the world wars, Laidlaw Memorial Institutional Presbyterian Church voted to join The United Church of Canada. Some families chose to leave Laidlaw Memorial at this time. They built St. Enoch's Church on Main Street, now All Nations Church.
Laidlaw welcomed the congregations of the Calvary United Church (formerly Calvary Methodist Church) from Campbell Avenue, and later St. Christopher’s United Church. St. Christopher's was notable for having organized a Credit Union to help their members buy homes in the area.
Many wonderful people over the years have contributed and worked together to make Laidlaw a beacon of welcome and help in this community. The church records are full of the records of weddings, funerals and baptisms that took place at Laidlaw.
At present, the congregation at Laidlaw has moved forward with the installation of a new roof and solar panels, part of a campaign of renewal and greening for the future. Laidlaw continues to welcome all those who seek to share life and light and love on Ottawa Street, in the name of Jesus Christ, the light of the world!
