Knox Presbyterian Church
Red Deer AB
T4N 1X2
Who we are
Welcome to Knox Presbyterian Church, Red Deer! Knox is a family-oriented church with whose members have a wide range of ages and interests, from small children in nursery and Sunday School to our Senior’s Drop-in Group.
This sincere community of faith is not just focused on developing our relationship with God but also our relationship with each other. At Knox, members are personally known to each other and each one is treated as members of our family.
We are governed by our Mission statement: “We, dependent upon the grace of God, dedicate ourselves to love and support one another in Christian growth”; and by our vision statement: ‘Creating a Christ-Like, Caring, Compassionate Community.” We strive to be a family where everyone is welcomed and cared for.
Our services are a blend of contemporary and traditional elements and are always enriched by our wonderful music program.
Knox offers creative and dynamic programs for children and opportunities to serve in various local and international ministries.
Knox has been an important part of the Red Deer Community since 1898 and has been in its present location since 1955. Knox is a place of worship, music and Christian development; as well as being home to a number of social and community groups.
Our Mission
At Knox we seek to be a relevant, biblically based Family of God’s people embodying the eternal message of his redeeming love to our community and the world. We aim to be a caring and friendly community of people rooted in a reformed understanding of Biblical Christianity. We are committed to serving the needs of our neighbours, near and far, hoping that together we may bring greater love and peace into the world, as Jesus taught. We aim to create a warm atmosphere here at Knox where everyone feels welcomed as part of our family.
At Knox, our worship services and programmes are designed to foster spiritual development and engulf and empower our members for ministry and service.
As part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, we celebrate two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
This sincere community of faith is not just focused on developing our relationship with God but also our relationship with each other. At Knox, members are personally known to each other and each one is treated as members of our family.
We are governed by our Mission statement: “We, dependent upon the grace of God, dedicate ourselves to love and support one another in Christian growth”; and by our vision statement: ‘Creating a Christ-Like, Caring, Compassionate Community.” We strive to be a family where everyone is welcomed and cared for.
Our services are a blend of contemporary and traditional elements and are always enriched by our wonderful music program.
Knox offers creative and dynamic programs for children and opportunities to serve in various local and international ministries.
Knox has been an important part of the Red Deer Community since 1898 and has been in its present location since 1955. Knox is a place of worship, music and Christian development; as well as being home to a number of social and community groups.
At Knox we seek to be a relevant, biblically based Family of God’s people embodying the eternal message of his redeeming love to our community and the world. We aim to be a caring and friendly community of people rooted in a reformed understanding of Biblical Christianity. We are committed to serving the needs of our neighbours, near and far, hoping that together we may bring greater love and peace into the world, as Jesus taught. We aim to create a warm atmosphere here at Knox where everyone feels welcomed as part of our family.
At Knox, our worship services and programmes are designed to foster spiritual development and engulf and empower our members for ministry and service.
As part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, we celebrate two sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
Church Website
Knox Presbyterian Church on Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Reverend Wayne Reid
Leader Position:
Minister
Phone:
Fax:
(403) 346-4584
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Reverend Wayne Reid
Leader Bio:
The Reverend Wayne Reid answered the call to become the minister at Knox and started in July, 2012.
Rev. Reid was ordained in the Moravian Church in Jamaica in 2004, after having, in his words, “an unrelenting sense that God was calling him” to the ministry. He studied at the University of the West Indies and the United Theological College of the West Indies. He was the minister of a large congregation in Jamaica for several years before moving to Canada where he has recently completed the diploma in Presbyterian denominational studies. Rev. Reid’s sermons give the congregation the loving, transforming, redeeming message of hope for God’s people. He believes that pastoral care is a fundamental part of any minister’s job, particularly for those in crisis and those who are unable to participate fully in the worship community.
Rev. Reid believes that education for all ages is an integral part of any congregation and with this in mind he supports educational programs for all ages in the congregation. As a team player who believes in setting achievable, measurable, specific goals with the church leaders, he believes that regular training and planning seminars are important for those in leadership roles. Creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for worship where friends are made is a must in his church.
Rev. Reid is married to Dawn and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Kemorine and Maya.
Rev. Reid was ordained in the Moravian Church in Jamaica in 2004, after having, in his words, “an unrelenting sense that God was calling him” to the ministry. He studied at the University of the West Indies and the United Theological College of the West Indies. He was the minister of a large congregation in Jamaica for several years before moving to Canada where he has recently completed the diploma in Presbyterian denominational studies. Rev. Reid’s sermons give the congregation the loving, transforming, redeeming message of hope for God’s people. He believes that pastoral care is a fundamental part of any minister’s job, particularly for those in crisis and those who are unable to participate fully in the worship community.
Rev. Reid believes that education for all ages is an integral part of any congregation and with this in mind he supports educational programs for all ages in the congregation. As a team player who believes in setting achievable, measurable, specific goals with the church leaders, he believes that regular training and planning seminars are important for those in leadership roles. Creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for worship where friends are made is a must in his church.
Rev. Reid is married to Dawn and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Kemorine and Maya.
Administration
Admin Name:
Margaret Krill
Admin Position:
Office Manager
Phone:
Fax:
(403) 346-4584
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Margaret Krill
Knox Presbyterian Church Service Times
Church Services
Sunday worship service is at 10:30 a.m. throughout the year.
Sunday School classes are during morning worship.
Christmas Eve service is a special candle-light service at 7:00 p.m. and there will be no service on Christmas Day.
It's been more than 5 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Sunday worship service is at 10:30 a.m. throughout the year.
Sunday School classes are during morning worship.
Christmas Eve service is a special candle-light service at 7:00 p.m. and there will be no service on Christmas Day.
It's been more than 5 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Sunday School / Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Children
To the glory of God and the delight of our congregation,Knox offers both a children’s nursery during service and a Sunday School.
Sunday School runs from September until the end of May and is staffed by various dedicated members from the congregation. The Sunday School is using a new Sunday School Program which has been well received by both students and teachers.
To the glory of God and the delight of our congregation,Knox offers both a children’s nursery during service and a Sunday School.
Sunday School runs from September until the end of May and is staffed by various dedicated members from the congregation. The Sunday School is using a new Sunday School Program which has been well received by both students and teachers.
Other information
Knox Presbyterian Church History
The Presbyterian Church in the Red Deer area dates back to the time when a wagon trail opened up between Calgary and Edmonton in the 1870’s. The fording place that was chosen on the Red Deer River was the natural place for a settlement. However, there were “Saddle-bag” preachers at that time and earlier who travelled from Edmonton south. The Reverend A.B. Baird was one of the first of these visiting preachers to hold services at the Red Deer River crossing, most likely conducting open-air services.
In 1887, Mr. A. E. Neilly was the first actual appointee to the Red Deer settlement, being sent out from Toronto by the Knox College Student Missionary Society. He organized a public school and taught the children for free. When Mr. Neilly left the school was placed under the jurisdiction of the North-West Territories and the Reverend Leonard Gaetz, a Methodist minister and school teacher.
In 1891, another regularly appointed minster, the Reverend James Buchanan, came from Manitoba to serve the area from Innisfail to Red Deer. Reverend Buchanan lived in Innisfail and travelled throughout the area. By the time Reverend Buchanan arrived in the area, the wagon trail had been used for some years and a rail line had been built as far as Red Deer in 1890. The settlement was relocated several miles from the crossing to its present site, and the village of Red Deer was incorporated that same year.
A succession of students followed and in 1893, G.D. Ireland moved the ministry headquarters to Red Deer from Innisfail. In addition to Red Deer, Mr. Ireland served the outlying fields of Edwell, Essexvale and Hill End. In the village of Red Deer, services were held in the C.P.R. station, Burch’s Hall (located on the N.E. corner of Gaetz Avenue and Ross Street) and in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Piper. People came from miles around to attend services, travelling by foot, horseback and wagon.
A further succession of students and missionaries followed and the congregation continued to grow. The area began to be in a position to consider building a church of their own. During this time the first church Session was constituted on August 14th, 1898. Mr. Barber, a student minister, became the driving force behind inspiring people to launch a building project. Money and materials were gathered and a number of persons contributed free labour. The first Knox Church was located on 49th Avenue and 48th Street and 20’by 30’ brick veneer plastered inside and out for a total cost of $600. By the time the church was completed in July 1898, there was only a $60 debt outstanding. It was officially opened and dedicated on July 3rd, 1898 and the first service was held in August.
The first minister to serve in the new church was the Reverend Allen Smith who was ordained at Knox on January 17th, 1899 and stayed until the fall of fall of that same year, during which time the Red Deer field became and ordained mission charge. The Reverend W. L. Atkinson arrived in the spring of 1900, having previously served in Innisfail. At this time the congregation started to build a manse, located at 49th Avenue and 48th Street. Reverend Atkinson stayed until 1901 and then returned to Eastern Canada due to his wife’s ill health. He was followed by the Reverend S.C. Forster who served until 1905. During this time the congregation was growing so rapidly that the church building was already too small. By 1904, the church already needed an addition and continued to be renovated over the years with another major addition in 1915. Additions and renovations could not continue to be justified and plans were made in 1949 to build a new church. Finances dictated that the original site be sold and the church moved to its current site, which was donated.
Sufficient money was raised by 1954 to proceed with construction, and the new church was opened and dedicated at it Ross Street location the following year.
The Reverend W. R. Bell held the first service on February 13th, 1955. The basement was still unfinished, but under the direction of the Ladies of the Church, volunteers completed that within a year. Plans for an addition were approved in 1960 and the Christian Education wing was added in 1962, creating an office, minister’s study, gym and Sunday school rooms.
In November 2006, the Knox Board of Managers won the support of the congregation for an extensive renovation project that encompassed upgrading and necessary improvements
In 1891, another regularly appointed minster, the Reverend James Buchanan, came from Manitoba to serve the area from Innisfail to Red Deer. Reverend Buchanan lived in Innisfail and travelled throughout the area. By the time Reverend Buchanan arrived in the area, the wagon trail had been used for some years and a rail line had been built as far as Red Deer in 1890. The settlement was relocated several miles from the crossing to its present site, and the village of Red Deer was incorporated that same year.
A succession of students followed and in 1893, G.D. Ireland moved the ministry headquarters to Red Deer from Innisfail. In addition to Red Deer, Mr. Ireland served the outlying fields of Edwell, Essexvale and Hill End. In the village of Red Deer, services were held in the C.P.R. station, Burch’s Hall (located on the N.E. corner of Gaetz Avenue and Ross Street) and in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Piper. People came from miles around to attend services, travelling by foot, horseback and wagon.
The first minister to serve in the new church was the Reverend Allen Smith who was ordained at Knox on January 17th, 1899 and stayed until the fall of fall of that same year, during which time the Red Deer field became and ordained mission charge. The Reverend W. L. Atkinson arrived in the spring of 1900, having previously served in Innisfail. At this time the congregation started to build a manse, located at 49th Avenue and 48th Street. Reverend Atkinson stayed until 1901 and then returned to Eastern Canada due to his wife’s ill health. He was followed by the Reverend S.C. Forster who served until 1905. During this time the congregation was growing so rapidly that the church building was already too small. By 1904, the church already needed an addition and continued to be renovated over the years with another major addition in 1915. Additions and renovations could not continue to be justified and plans were made in 1949 to build a new church. Finances dictated that the original site be sold and the church moved to its current site, which was donated.
The Reverend W. R. Bell held the first service on February 13th, 1955. The basement was still unfinished, but under the direction of the Ladies of the Church, volunteers completed that within a year. Plans for an addition were approved in 1960 and the Christian Education wing was added in 1962, creating an office, minister’s study, gym and Sunday school rooms.
In November 2006, the Knox Board of Managers won the support of the congregation for an extensive renovation project that encompassed upgrading and necessary improvements
Inspire my thoughts
Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until the eventide. Inspire all my thoughts. Pervade all my imaginations. Suggest all my decisions. Lodge in my soul's most inward citadel, and order all my doings. Be with me in silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and the weariness of the evening. Give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship.
Knox Presbyterian Church listing was last updated on the 22nd of March, 2019
