When Canon R. L. McLaren, Rector of St. Jude's, Wexford, proposed the need for a new church to be established north of Ellesmere Avenue to serve the growing Scarborough community in 1954, Victoria Park was still a two-lane highway with ditches on either side and a farm to the west. Plans for a new church to be called The Church of St. Andrew were soon approved. In 1956, aided by Archdeacon Walter Gilling, Diocesan Director of Church Extension, and by Mr. A. B. Cairns, the principal subdivision builder for the area, ten lots on the corner of Terraview Blvd. were chosen, and a portable church was erected. [The portable came from St. Patrick's, Newtonbrook]. The first service was held on October 28 of that year with Canon McLaren officiating. One hundred and four communicants were recorded as receiving the Eucharist on that day, which the parish regards as its official beginning.
In January of 1957, the Rev. S. Duncan Abraham was appointed Priest-in-Charge. He was to become the parish's first Rector. Under his leadership, a campaign was initiated to raise $75,000 for a permanent building. A little over a year later, Bishop George Snell laid the cornerstone of the new church. The first phase was completed in September 1958 and was dedicated by Bishop Fred Wilkinson. A friend of the parish, artist Max Moffett, donated the sculpture of the fisherman which hangs on the wall of the Sanctuary. The second phase, an extension to the west end of the church, was completed in 1961 at a cost of $80,000. At that time there were 700 families on the parish rolls. In 1964 the Wicks’ organ was installed.
Following his incumbency at St. Andrew’s, the Very Rev. Duncan Abraham (retired), served as Rector of St. Peter’s Coburg, then became Dean of Toronto and Rector of St. James Cathedral from 1987-1994. He recently marked seventy years of sacred ministry.
On August 1, 1965. Canon Logan Varey was inducted as Rector, serving the parish for twenty-four years until December 1989. During his years as Rector, two major projects were completed. In 1976, our beautiful Front Entrance Project was finished and dedicated. In 1983, the new Christian Education Wing was completed at an estimated cost of $250,000. It was dedicated on December 11th of that year by the Most Rev. Robert Seaborn, Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Armed Forces and the retired Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada.
In 1990, the Rev. Joan Waters-Garner became our third Incumbent. During her time with us the contemporary-language worship of the Book of Alternative Services was introduced. Rev. Joan also made a significant change to the sanctuary, moving the celebration of the Eucharist behind the Altar facing the congregation and adding the Celtic Cross on the East Wall. Rev. Joan retired in 1995.
The Rev. Canon William Kibblewhite became St. Andrew’s fourth incumbent. During his tenure, a new organ console was installed, upgrades were made, and new pipes added. On January 13, 2002, the Harry and Norma Amey Memorial Lift was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Michael H. H. Bedford-Jones. Canon Bill retired in 2007. In the interim, the Rev. Catherine Barley was appointed Priest-in-Charge until May 2008.
In June 2008, the Rev. Dr. Heather McCance became our fifth incumbent, concluding her ministry on August 31, 2017 after serving St. Andrew’s for nine years of faithful ministry to our parish.
Throughout the remainder of 2017 and through 2018 several clergy served as Priests-in-Charge including the Rt. Rev. Michael Pollesel, former bishop of Uruguay.
In January 2019, Canon Donald Butler was appointed incumbent and served in the position until August 2023. Following a year of leadership by a number of interim clergy, in October 2024 the Rev. Jacob (Jake) Cunliffe was appointed Priest-in-Charge. In October 2026, Bishop Andrew Asbil appointed Rev. Jake as Incumbent.
Over the years, the parish has been well served by a number of assistant curates: newly ordained clergy just starting out in ministry, completing their training with us. One of the curates was the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews, suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Toronto, Bishop of Edmonton, and Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. Bishop Victoria was the first woman consecrated bishop in Canada and the fifth in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Church of St. Andrew, Scarborough, is a warm, welcoming landmark parish, serving the communities of north-west Scarborough and north-east North York for seventy years. Originally most of our parishioners were of European descent; now we are one of the larger multi-cultural parishes in the diocese. Many of our parishioners have their roots in Caribbean nations, and an increasing number hail from south Asia and from across Africa.
This wonderful cultural diversity has brought a great richness to the parish. Our parish family represents a wide variety of heritages melded together by a faith that encourages warmth, affection and support among its members and which has been characterized by faithful service and witness on the part of our parishioners. That is reflected in our Mission Statement which is, "To love and worship God as one family in Jesus Christ; to extend this love into Christian action in the community."