by Lib & Rich Neufeld
January 26, 2014

We moved into the area in 1971 and began looking for a church. When we went to Dominion Douglas we were very impressed with the choir. Since we had always sung in choirs we decided to join DD and of course the choir.

However, it wasn't quite so straightforward. The choir at that time consisted of only professionals so we were not welcome.
However we persisted so finally the director, Ted McLearon agreed to audition members of the congregation to sing for the Mother's Day service. Once we had our foot in the door, there was no stopping us and we have been members of the choir ever since!

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by Loida & Claude Guilbault
January 19, 2014

Our own special memories - the church was 'Erskine & American'.

We got married during 'Expo '67'. Our two daughters were also baptized there. The minister was then Rev. Norman Slaughter. Those were the good old days!

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by Alan Greig
January 12, 2014

Dominion-Douglas was always our family church. We moved to Victoria Ave on the Montreal side, where several D-D families lived. Close by were the Spurrells in a house maintained by the church as a residence for the Sexton, and still closer to the Boulevard lived the then minister, A. Lloyd Smith, father of Donald and Walter. I attended Teens' Club where I met Philip Johnston and the Harper brothers Ralph and Bruce.

There were two Sunday services in those days, 11 am and 7:30 pm, and an assistant minister. In the morning the pews were full, the ushers dressed in morning coats; evening attendance was much less formal, more contemplative in tone. This period just preceded a time of societal and demographic shifts which have meant a change in religious practice across the board in the northeast.

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by Julie Dawson
January 5, 2014

Christmas Eve Service, in spite of the snow, was well attended. Thanks to Rev. John, Margaret de Castro and the Church School children and supporters.

It reminded me of a service some time ago when Mary had just produced her new baby from under her shawl to the strains of "Away in a Manger'. In the magical silence that followed, a small boy with a loud voice was heard to say, "Mummy! Is that the REAL baby Jesus?'

by Kiki Tremain
February 23, 2014

"In 1975, we came to Montreal to buy a house. As a stranger to Montreal, I called our church on Sunday to find out the time of the service. We were not only welcomed on arrival, but were invited to lunch in the garden of Anita and Eric Mountjoy.

Bal Mount, his wife, and Carolyn Cronk rounded out the welcoming group who reached out to us."

by Nancy Walkling
February 16, 2014

I grew up in St Andrew’s, where my great-grandfather Rev W. J. Clark served as minister for 25 years during its transition from Presbyterian to United Church. Dorothy Sutherland was one of my Sunday School teachers and Janet Martin, head of the Women’s Missionary Society, read to us about children overseas.

I sang in the children’s choir, directed by the organist Gordon White. Christmas Eve services were late. When not singing we would sit around the organ in the chancel, unseen by the congregation, eyes on our wristwatches as we waited to be able to whisper Merry Christmas to each other at midnight.

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by Sarah Stevenson,
February 2, 2014

The largest stained glass window in St. Andrew's United Church was very beautiful, it was of a huge guardian angel.
I once told Al Kirker, the minister, it would be the graven image I might worship, were I going to.
The artist was Theo Lubbers.



Theo's wife, Hedda Lubbers, created the tapestries that now decorate the chapel of Mountainside United.
Of all the tapestries, the one of Jesus as a fisherman of men and women appealed to me most.
I did this sketch and used it on the cover of the order of service for Dick, my husband's, memorial service.

by Peggy Jean Thomas, March 30, 2014
My life at Erskine United Church, I remember:

1. That the sanctuary had been at an angle 45% clockwise
from the present alignment which was the result of the renovation that followed the arrival of the American congregation.
2. The choir gowns had been black and everything up front took place behind a big brass rail.
3. That the Sunday School rooms opened off a badminton court and could be closed with pull-down roller doors.
4. That during the renovation we worshipped in Victoria Hall and that Christmas morning our family sat in the balcony.

After the union of congregations Erskine United and American, I was older and my memories were different – such as going down town on the streetcar for the 9:30 a.m. Young People’s Service and week-day evenings for Junior Young People’s meetings. We put on plays and once I was the back end of a horse in some production on the stage. I also remember an exchange visit to Newport, Vermont.

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by Julie Dawson, March 23, 2014
TEES HALL and Dr. Fred Tees

Dr. Fred Tees was a life-long, proud Montrealer, as was his wife Beatrice. He was a keen athlete and a decorated medical doctorin World War I. He and Beatrice were active members of Dominion Square Methodist Church where they were married.

His mentor was Mr. William Goodwin ( Goodwin Parlour). He and Beatrice were very active in the founding of Dominion Douglas Church. They poured over plans to build our beautiful church with Mr. John Leslie (Leslie Hall) who was in charge of building the church.

Both Dr. Fred and Beatrice were active in many aspects of the church. Dr. Fred was Clerk of Session from the time he returned from the war.

He was a man beloved by all who knew him.
We are grateful to these generous families that have been so important to our history at Mountainside United.

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by Julie Dawson, March 16, 2014

"Colin Spencer’s daughter, Cynthia, writes 'In 1922, Dad was baptised in Douglas Church. Douglas Church combined with Dominion Methodist Church (where Miriam Tees was baptised) to become Dominion-Douglas United Church.

In 1961 the Spencers moved to 607 Lansdowne Avenue - the previous home of the Assistant Minister.
Colin had to fix the leaky kitchen ceiling as no one else had been able to.

Colin’s commitment to Dominion-Douglas was lifelong. He took over running the Sunday School from Henry Findlay. In the 1960’s he taught the Confirmation classes. He and Audrey were active members of the “Couples’ Club” whose members continued to form their social group.

Cynthia remembers “all six of us sat in the ‘Spencer’s pew’ with Dad’s parents, Ethel and Alan Spencer. The Lloyd-Smith family sat in front of us.”

Until very recently Colin was always in the narthex before the service welcoming friend and newcomers. We remember, with gratitude, Colin’s loyalty and support for our church.

- by Andrea Patch Smith, April 6, 2014

What I remember about St Andrew's on Stanton Street was the warmth, smile and enthusiasm of Dr Alan Kirker. My sister's wedding took place there, at which my brother fainted, but was caught as he fell by an observant guest. I took confirmation classes led by Brian Powell and I also taught Sunday School for the first time. I was fourteen and, because I was so old, one of the little boys asked me "Are you married?"

When we moved up the hill to St Andrew's Dominion-Douglas I was no longer living in Montreal, so my memories are of many Christmas Eve services. The candlelight service, in which the congregation stood in a circle around the church singing carols after Communion, was so popular that sometimes there was a double circle of candlelight, surely making any fire monitors very nervous. Walking home afterwards in the snow (it always snowed) and calling 'Merry Christmas' was the perfect beginning to Christmas.

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- by Amie Mathieu, April 20, 2014

I attended my first Sunday service in Erskine and American Church when I came here to see EXPO ’67. After I moved here and started working at the Montreal General Hospital I decided to become a member of E&A.

Yvon and I were married in E&A in August 1970 officiated by Rev. Norman Slaughter.
Our daughter and son were baptized in E&A. Our daughter based her master’s thesis on E&A’s history and its rare collection of “Tiffany Windows”. She was also married at E&A.

Our family will always treasure memories of that grand old church.

- by Robert Shank, May 4, 2014

How wonderful to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mountainside United worshipping at the same site. I will always remember Easter Sunday, April 7 1996. We were on Meeting Place, the TV service CBC did those days. As a matter of fact, this particular service was the last one they did as the series ended. The production crew doing the broadcast came straight over to the church from the Montreal Forum, having done Hockey Night In Canada. They spent most of the night setting up at the church. Of course there were cables all over the floor of the church and we had to be careful where we walked. The service went very well. The music was wonderful and the church full. Actually it was quite a thrilling experience. I have the Video of the service. Haven’t played it for a while, but Easter services yesterday reminded me of it.

I am writing this on my 80th birthday.
We both send our love,
Bob and Pearl Shank

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p.s. I remember we sang a new hymn Joyce had introduced and we had practiced –
“In the Bulb There Is a Flower”. It has become a favourite, especially for Colin Spencer.
-Julie Dawson

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- by Donna Fraser, May 18, 2014

About 25 years ago I received a call from the church secretary.
A man was waiting in the office to see a Mr. Hall. His meeting had something to do with the Scouts who could not be reached. Our secretary hoped that I could convince him that we did not have a Mr. Hall in the congregation. I talked with him and he was very sure he was to meet with a Mr. Hall but did not know where the meeting would take place. The man he was to meet he was SURE was a member of our congregation. He seemed quite irritated that we couldn't help him. Then something began to stir my mind.

I asked, “Please give me Mr. Hall's first name.” The answer, “MR. LESLIE HALL - LESLIE HALL that is his name and I know I am to meet with him in this church.” He was very sure he had the correct information. Our secretary showed him to Leslie Hall where someone from the Scouts would probably be there to meet him.

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- by Dennis Dwyer, May 25, 2014

One of my most memorable times at DD was in the very early 50s when still a teenager I occasionally turned pages for our wonderful organist John Robb. I loved organ music and was glad that our organist wasn’t frightened of the instrument. I’d been to churches of friends where the organist did what was required and no more.

The time I remember best was when Walter Zeller had sent 10,000 white lily blooms from Bermuda in time for the Easter Sunday service. As was normal, there were additions to the choir as well as a string section and some trumpets. But the earth-shaking moment was when after the recessional John played the Vidor Toccata from the 5th Organ Symphony --- and used the big reeds!

What I can only describe ( from a 15 year old’s perspective ) as a blast of celestial noise virtually lifted us off the pews. My later professor of Christology, Dr. Doug Hall (DFD @ McGill & UTC 1978-1981) would have put this down as “imperial Christianity”, but the smell of the lilly blooms covering all the pillars, the front of the balcony, and all over the chancel, combined with the Vidor played “all out” by John Robb was truly a mind-blowing experience. The closest similar feeling I’ve experienced was years later as a young S/Lt in the RCN(R) in a howling gale aboard a small 150’ minesweeper watching the 30’ waves smash against the wheel house.

In both cases, the reality of God was unquestioned.

- by Jackie Ross, June 1, 2014

Our family , myself with late husband, Ian, and our two young children, Heather and little Ian, attended St. Andrew's church.
Heather loved loved her Sunday School teacher, Mrs Minty, wife of Westmount contractor Jack Minty. We learned about the fire at the church while sitting on the beach at Kennebunk. Heather was very upset, “Oh No! Mrs Minty’s house burned down!”

-by Betsy & Tom Zukow
September 28, 2014

A Warm Welcome

We arrived in Montreal in 1967 from New York City.
After getting settled in, we started a “church search”!
Unimpressed by the reception we had received at several Westmount churches, we made a last ditch effort at Dominion-Douglas United. Betsy was in the narthex when we arrived and we received a very warm welcome.

At the beginning of the service, from the raised pulpit, Dr. Smith announced that two visitors were in the congregation and hoped that everyone would welcome them at the coffee hour. Lo and behold, everyone came up and welcomed us and hoped that we would return.

We did, with much pleasure. It was not too long after that we bought our house at 657 Lansdowne. We became members of the church and soon we were very involved and given keys to the church so that the Meals on Wheels metal containers could be dropped off for washing and returned to the kitchen.

We have been very involved ever since.

We’re the proof of what a warm welcome means.


- by Beverley & John Lough
October 5, 2014

The church was not above trying something new. Our son, Richard, and his wife, Michelle, were married here by Reverend Bob Shank in February of 1991. At that time the first few rows of pews were removed and replaced perpendicular to the alter.

As I recall, this was not popular and the change did not have a long life.


- by Diane Harper
Oct 12, 2014

We enjoyed Young Peoples at Dominion Douglas before we were married & then the Couples Club after marriage. In 1961 we decided to join D.D. as we really felt at home here. We had many great New Year’s eve parties at the church with Couples Club. It really was a special group.

When Keith Eddy was assistant minister, Edwina(his wife) & I started a C.G.I.T. group. It was around 1966 that Eunice Tees, myself& a few other young mothers decided that we needed a group where we could get together & take turns looking after one anothers children while the moms could have some adult time together. This eventually evolved into the nursery school.

For many years there was a Christmas morning service that featured a family doing it. In 1971 our family took our turn.
A great experience for our children as well as ourselves.

In the 70’s Unit 10 organized a cooking school with Mary Murray who was a volunteer cook for MOW & had experience & knowledge in nutrition. We would meet once a week. The result of this was a cookbook, “The Genuine Good Old-Fashioned Everyday Gourmet Cookbook”. Better known as the Dominion Douglas cookbook.

When Phyllis Smythe was minister here, she had the Young Peoples group, of which Stephen was a member, do the Christmas eve service – our family would drive down to the country afterwards so we would have our Christmas there. Over 55 years of wonderful memories & great friends.