The church had its origins in 1830, when a group of Scottish immigrants formed the St. Andrew’s congregation.  In 1873 the name of the congregation was changed to St. Paul’s.

Between 1854 to 1857, the current church building was erected on what was then a more bucolic setting.  William Thomas who is  recognized as “one of the founders of the Canadian architectural profession” is the architect of St. Paul’s. Overall, the architectural design is English Gothic revival.  The building is of grey stone largely from Hamilton quarries.  The tower rises dramatically to a height of 100 feet to the top of the parapet line, where it almost imperceptibly reduces itself into an octagonal spire.  The total height of tower and spire is 180 feet, and it is believed to be the highest of its kind, entirely of stone, in the country.

The Bells of St. Paul’s were installed and used on Sunday, November 11, 1906.  Eleven bells make up the chimes, the largest one weighing 2100 pounds (955 k) and the smallest one 300 pounds (136 k).  The total weight is 9873 pounds (4488 k) and the total cost was $4,000.  The bells are played every Sunday morning calling worshippers to church and on other special occasions.

An item of keen interest to passers-by along the busy main streets  at the corner of the church property is our Cross of Sacrifice erected by the congregation in 1921.  It commemorates the fallen men and women of the two great wars.  The Monument, a large Celtic Cross, is counted one of the most beautiful war memorials in the country. It was carved in Scotland, and is similar to the ancient crosses in Iona where Christianity was first brought to Scotland from Ireland by St. Columba. The arms of the Cross are truncated, and the column tapers from its base to the apex. A circle symbolical of a crown or wreath, surrounds the arms. In Scotland and Ireland some of these ancient crosses still remain. A service of remembrance is held at the cross by the congregation each year on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day.

The many beautiful stained glass windows of St. Paul’s depict the stories of the Bible. 

“St. Paul’s has preserved the vision of devout pioneers in what is now a place of peace and spiritual restoration amid the bustle and stress of present day industry and commerce.”

At St. Paul’s “we honour the past without being entombed in it.  We are sensitive to the present without being beguiled by fads.  We have faith in the future, determined to follow Christ.”