HISTORY

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN

Reformed Presbyterians are sometimes called “Covenanters” because we trace our heritage back to the Scottish Covenanters who fought—and died—for their beliefs. Many of these beliefs were written down in Covenants (e.g., Scotland’s National Covenant of 1638) and signed by vast numbers of people.

In 1743, the first Reformed Presbyterian congregation was established in North America. Today, Reformed Presbyterian churches can be found in many places around the world, including Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, India, Scotland, Spain, and Japan. While we are divided into separate denominations (mostly by country/continent), we are united in a common faith, based upon the authoritative Word of God. To learn more about the RP church around the world, visit RPGlobalAlliance.org.

RUSSELL

The Russell RPC first began in October 1997 as a church plant of the Ottawa RPC. We were then about 30 people meeting at the Mother Theresa Annex (very close to the current Russell Public Library). When the Annex was demolished in 2009, the church moved across the road to St. Joseph School, where we worshipped until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Within a few weeks, we began livestreaming morning and evening worship. On July 19th, 2020, with much joy and thanksgiving, we reunited at our first-ever outdoor worship service! Unable to return to St. Joseph School, we continued worshipping outdoors in the summer months. When outdoor services were made difficult by rain or snow, we worshipped at the Embrun Community Centre. In October 2021, we began worshipping at Community Christian School in Metcalfe.

In 2017, we celebrated 20 years as a congregation, and Pastor Matt Kingswood, and his wife, Tara, celebrated 20 years of ministry among us. In December 2020, our congregation purchased an old grocery store in the heart of Russell. In September 2022, we began worshipping in our beautifully-renovated building. God is indeed faithful!