The Rev. Dr. R. F. Burns was the first minister of Chalmers, a native of Paisley, Scotland. Coming to Canada in 1845, he graduated from Knox College in 1847 and was called to Chalmers. He organized the work of Chalmers as a congregation, guided them in the choice of a name for the church, and in the construction of their first building (where the Annandale is now). He left in 1855 but returned for the opening of the present church in 1890. He died in London, England in 1896.

After a brief ministry by The Rev. David Blair, The Rev. Patrick Gray was called to Chalmers. Born in Scotland near Glasgow, he came to Canada about the time of the Disruption in Scotland. Before coming to Kingston, Rev. Gray served in Georgetown and Carleton Place. In Kingston he served with great acceptance to both the congregation and students. His death through illness in 1876 was keenly felt. The congregation showed its appreciation of his life and work by placing a beautiful stained glass window in the south wall of the church.

The Rev. Finlay McCuaig was born near Montreal in 1835. He graduated from Knox College in 1860. He became minister at Chalmers in July 1877 and remained for 10 years. He died in 1904 having served the church faithfully for 44 years.

The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Macgillivray was the distinguished, learned and beloved pastor of Chalmers for 30 years. He was a graduate of Queen’s University and Theological College in1874. He served in Scarborough and Perth and then in 1887 he was called to Chalmers. No minister ever established himself more firmly in the esteem and affection of his people than did Dr. Macgillivray in those 30 years. Throughout the whole Presbyterian Church of Canada he was regarded with honour and respect. He was chosen as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1915. He resigned in 1917, was made Minister Emeritus of Chalmers and continued to serve Chalmers in many ways. He died in 1928, esteemed and beloved by a great company to whom his memory was an inspiration.

The Rev. Dr. R. J. Wilson was called from Vancouver to succeed Dr. Macgillivray. Under him in anticipation of the Organic Union of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, the union of Chalmers and the First Congregational Church was effected. Prominent in the advocacy of Union, Dr. Wilson was invited to become Secretary of the Committee on Church Union Publicity. He accepted this position and resigned from Chalmers in October 1923. He died in 1941.

On March 28th, 1924, The Rev. Dr George A. Brown became the seventh minister of Chalmers Church. In 1933, on the occasion of his having completed 25 years in the Christian Ministry and his receiving his Doctorate from Queen’s University, the members of Chalmers conveyed to him their congratulations and affectionate good wishes. Over the years his ministry of tenderness and quiet strength endeared him not only to his own congregation but to the whole community. The high regard in which Dr. Brown was held was shown by the various positions to which he was appointed: Presidency of the Bay of Quinte conference, the Chairmanship of the Board of Christian Education of the United Church of Canada, the Chairmanship of the Board of Queen’s Theological College and representative of the College on the Board of Trustees of Queen’s University. He died in Kingston on March 2, 1970.

Dr. Banister was inducted in September 1950. With his coming and fine leadership and the growth of the city, a new epoch was begun in Chalmers. For over 10 years the church knew only advancement in numbers and influence. In 1957, Macgillivray-Brown Hall was built on Barrie Street – a building that enjoyed extensive use by the community as well as by the congregation. A considerable share of the funds to build this fine edifice came from a generous bequest of a prominent and beloved member of Chalmers, Miss Marion Redden. After his retirement from Chalmers in 1965, Dr. Banister, a noted preacher, was a professor at Queen’s Theological College, in which post he continued to give leadership in many areas of the life of Kingston and the church.

Robert Kenneth Noble McLean was born in the village of Waskada, Manitoba on January 1, 1922 and was educated in the four-room village school, where he showed a remarkable aptitude for the piano.

He attended United College in Winnipeg where he became involved with the Student Christian Movement, and a group of welcoming students and staff who changed his life. These young men and women were deeply involved in theological matters, justice concerns and human relationships.. During his undergraduate years, he served several student charges in the winter months. He was ordained in June of 1946 and he spent time in Winnipeg as Assistant at Knox United Church, then as Dean of Men at United College and SCM Secretary. That was followed by a year of study and preaching in Edinburgh then a call to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. he was granted another fellowship to study at Harvard University. However Bob realized that parish ministry was most important to him, and accepted a Call to Cambridge Street United in Lindsay, Ontario in 1957. A call from Chalmers United Church in Kingston tempted Bob, and a decision to move was made in 1965.

The years in Kingston found the church in transition with new theological thrusts and much social upheaval, however, Bob’s ministry prospered and seven and a half memorable years were spent in Kingston.

In 1978, the General Council approached Bob to act as staff officer of a national task Force designed to study and report on all aspects of ministry in the United Church, with Anne Squire as committee chair. This was a two-year enterprise named Project Ministry. In 1980, when the report was finished,, Bob was invited to teach Practical Theology at Queen’s and was delighted to move back to Kingston, but in March of 1983, he was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died on September 23, 1983.

Chalmers United Church announced the appointment of The Rev. Dr Stanford R. Lucyk to succeed Dr. R.K.N. McLean. Dr. Lucyk came to Kingston from Melrose United Church, Hamilton. He was born in Saskatchewan and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and also from St. Andrew’s College, Saskatoon. Later, he did graduate work at McGill University. He was assisted in his work at Chalmers by a capable deaconess, Margaret Quigley. A special celebration was held in September 1978 after the morning service when Chalmers congregation expressed its love for and gratitude to her for her nine years of service. Margaret, whose freshness, integrity and commitment had contributed so much to Chalmers during her ministry amongst us came to its formal end on September 1. In 1978, Dr. Lucyk was called to Timothy Eaton United Church in Toronto.

Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson and his wife, The Right Rev. Dr. Lois Wilson grew up in Winnipeg. They attended United College in Winnipeg. From 1951-4, Roy served as secretary to the Student Christian Movement at the University of Manitoba and was elected President of Manitoba Conference in 1963. He received a Doctorate Divinity from University of Manitoba in 1971. Roy was a member of the executive of the United Church and was elected a delegate to seven General Councils. He and Lois served in Thunder Bay and then were called to Hamilton where their church burned down two days after Roy’s induction. They arranged to have their congregation share quarters with a nearby Anglican church. The result was the establishment of First Place, a residential, commercial and social centre with apartments for senior citizens, handicapped people and married overseas students. Rev Roy Wilson was inducted in September 1978 with a very innovative service format creatively developed by Alex Bryans and his committee. After the November anniversary discussions, the pastoral relations committee recommended that Rev. Lois Wilson be appointed associate minister. In 1981 Mrs. Wilson was elected the first woman moderator of the United Church of Canada, as well as president of the Canadian Council of Churches, a member of the World Council of Churches and a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Later, The Rt. Rev. Lois Wilson was appointed to the Canadian Senate. In 1983, Dr. Roy Wilson was called to Timothy Eaton United Church in Toronto. He died in Toronto after serving as a faithful minister of the United Church of Canada for over 40 years.

Lois Wilson was born in Winnipeg and obtained her BA from the University of Manitoba in 1947. Ordained after 15 years as a homemaker Lois shared team ministries with her husband, Roy, successively in Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Kingston, the latter from 1978-80.

Lois was elected president of the Canadian Council of Churches in 1976 and moderator of the United Church of Canada in 1980, the first woman to hold either office. In 1983 she was elected one of the 7 presidents of the World Council of Churches. Also in 1983, she became co-director of the Ecumenical Forum of Canada. She has been instrumental in awakening in the United Church an increased concern for co-ordinated action to eliminate poverty and promote peace throughout the world.

In 1984 she became a Member of the Order of Canada, and in 1985 she received the Pearson Peace Prize and World Federalists Peace Award. The author of several books and the recipient of many honorary degrees, she has been chancellor of Lakehead University since 1991.

In 1998, Lois Wilson was appointed to the Senate of Canada, where she served as an Independent member until her retirement in 2002 at age 75. Dr. Wilson won the World Federalist Peace Prize and Canada’s Pearson Peace Medal. Previously an Officer of the Order of Canada, she is one of the few Canadians to be promoted to the top rank of Companion. She is also a Member of the Order of Ontario.