Sunshine Presbyterian Church

Did the walls of Sunshine Presbyterian Church ever dream of hymns echoing within their brick embrace? In 1907, the fledgling Presbyterian community of Sunshine gathered not here, but at the local state school. Imagine their voices rising in song, their hopes for a permanent home resonating within those temporary walls. They soon moved to the Mechanics Institute in Hampshire Road, led by Mr. John Thomas Lawton, a man destined to become Sunshine’s first ordained minister. Sunshine Presbyterian Church truly began to take shape in 1908. Hugh Victor McKay, a prominent figure in the area, generously offered land for a church building. The chosen location, at the corner of Devonshire and Anderson Road, became the site of the first wooden church, dedicated in 1910. This wooden structure served the community faithfully for over a decade, a testament to their devotion. In May 1926, H.V. McKay laid the foundation stone for the magnificent brick church you see before you today. Sadly, he passed away just days later, leaving a legacy of generosity and faith. The current Sunshine Presbyterian Church building was completed in 1928, replacing its wooden predecessor. The older building then found new life as the Sunday School, continuing to nurture the community’s faith. The McKay family’s generosity extended beyond the initial land donation. They gifted the pulpit, furnishings, communion cloths, and stunning memorial windows, honoring H.V. McKay and his son, Hubert Selwyn McKay. Sunshine Presbyterian Church, now also known as the McKay Memorial, stood as a symbol of their enduring impact on the community. Tragedy struck in January 1973 when the original wooden church, filled with memories and history, was destroyed by arson. Inside these brick walls, a Roll of Honor memorial tablet commemorates eight members of Sunshine Presbyterian Church who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I. Their names, etched in stone, whisper stories of courage and loss. Sunshine Presbyterian Church stands proudly to this day, a testament to the faith and resilience of a community. Its story is interwoven with the generosity of the McKay family and the sacrifices of its members. As you gaze upon its brick facade, remember the journey from humble beginnings in a state school to the enduring presence it holds today, adjacent to the serene H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens.