ST.ANDREW'S

This final period in the history of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church begins with the arrival of the Rev. A. C. Dayfoot and the family to Princes Town in 1952. Rev Dayfoot was in many ways, a Reformer and Builder. When he came, he refused to assume the title of "Field Missionary", a title used to describe his predecessors. He assumed the name of "Field Secretary" , and set himself to the task of re - organising the work of the Princes Town Field. In so doing, he contributed greatly to the moving away from the old missionary pattern.

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When the Dayfoots came to Princes Town in 1952, they were housed in the old Canadian Mission House, but Rev. Dayfoot committed himself to the job of designing, supervising and building a very comfortable Manse. His abilities as a builder did not end here, for in 1954, he was involved in the erection of a new school building at St. Julien - the first Presbyterian School erected with a steel frame.

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But the master designer and builder exhibited his finest work when the Princes Town community saw, in 1956, the completion of the new St. Andrew's Church Building. Its architecture, based on the Spanish influence, is truly unsurpassed. After making a tremendous contribution as Field Secretary, the Rev. Dayfoot succeeded the Rev. Newberry as Principal of St. Andrew's Theological College, in 1958.

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Following the Dayfoots to Princes Town, was a local minister, the Rev. Wilfred Dindial, who served from 1958 to 1961. This was the first Pastorate after graduation from a Canadian University. However, because of domestic reasons, he resigned and migrated to Canada.

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The church had lost a minister, and Rev. Dindial's migration was followed by at least seven others, who also took up residence in Canada. This added to the detriment of the Trinidad church. St. Andrew's was again in need of Pastoral leadership. This led to the appointment of Dr. J. C. MacDonald. He came to Princes Town in 1961, and served till his death in 1966. It is coincidental that Dr. MacDonald's first and last pastoral regions was Princes Town.

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Dr. MacDonald was replaced in 1962 by Rev. W. J. Hogman, another Field Secretary. He was ably assisted by his wife, who was also an ordained minister. When they left for Fyzabad, in 1965, Rev. C. G. Kitney was appointed to Princes Town in the same capacity. After a period of three years , St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church welcomed, from the United Church of Jamaica, the Rev. E. L. Bigby in 1965.After a brief period of two years, Rev. Bigby also migrated to Canada. It was obvious that being a negro, he found tremendous difficulty in settling down in a church that is predominantly East - Indian. He himself often admitted this.

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In 1970, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church had the services of an old missionary who had served the church previously between 1932 to 1936. The Rev. Dr. McIntosh. But in that same year, 1970, a local minister, the Rev. Emerson Mylalsingh, trained in Jamaica, was appointed. However, due to a serious sight problem, he left for England in 1972. Between 1972 and 1973, Rev. Dr. Fraser, a Canadian who came to serve the church as Business Manager, assisted in the pastoral work of the Princes Town region.

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In July 1973, the Rev. Allison Ken Nobbee, newly graduated from Mona, Jamaica, was appointed to serve the princes Town region. At the time of writing of this article, the Princes Town region consisted of eight congregations - St. Andrew's, Iere, Jordan Hill, St. Julien, New Century, St Mary's, Tableland,  and Poole. This region continued to grow from strength to strength, meeting its spiritual and material commitments.

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For this we say "Thanks to God".

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"THE BEGINNING" - 1976

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