Get to Know Us

Get To Know Us

More than just a magnificent building, The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul is a vibrant hub of caring people living and sharing God’s message of hope while reaching out to those in need in their local community in Montreal, Canada and worldwide. We are members of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. We hold traditional worship services accompanied by our renowned choir singing traditional sacred music every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. EST in our spacious sanctuary. In addition to the beautiful stained glass windows, the church also has a majestic organ, one of the largest in Montreal, to accompany our choir. Special services and musical performances are held throughout the year, all open to the public. Visitors are welcome to join us in Holy Communion which is held 6 times per year. There is also a Crèche (Nursery) and Church School (Sunday School) for your children, so please bring them along.

As one of the largest and most vibrant Presbyterian Congregations in Canada, we welcome all to worship with us or join our community to participate in our projects and activities. Diversity is one of our mainstays as seen every year during our Heritage Service where we parade in over 30 flags of the different nations represented by members in the congregation. We also encourage you to join us after services for “Coffee and Fellowship” to learn more about what we are doing.

We encourage you to watch the following slideshow highlighting the past year at our church. We are blessed with such a vibrant life and active congregation that we cherish each and every day.

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Mission Projects

In addition, the Church has numerous committees that undertake our many mission projects. For example, in Montreal, we help close to 20 different local charities. On the international scene, we work through the Presbyterian World, Service & Development agency that provides development and relief in challenged countries, especially Africa. Ten years ago, we welcomed a young African refugee who started a new life in Canada. Our congregation is currently sponsoring a Syrian refugee family and working with Action Réfugié Montréal and the YMCA Residence on Tupper Street in Montreal to provide help to hundreds of cross-border refugees from the US.

Our youth group brings together young people from Grade 6 through High School who are very active in the community, often helping with various events around the church and fundraising for many of our projects. Another group that we call “The Guild” organizes one of our largest events, our “Annual Fall Fair” in November where donated items and baked goods are sold to raise funds that are distributed to the many charities that depend on our support each year.

Our Building

At the front of the church are the Chancel gates, a gift of the Allan family. You will notice the ship motif, evident throughout the Nave, repeated in the brass models of the brig "Jean". This was the first Allan ship to transport Scottish immigrants to Canada. The other two emblems on the gates are a sheaf of wheat and a chalice, symbolizing the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Three steps though the ship-motif gates lead to the Chancel, dominated by the pulpit to the left, the lectern to the right and stalls for our 50-voice choir.

To your right beyond the choir stalls is the console of Montreal's largest organ, a four-manual 1932 Casavant. There is a second console in the gallery. Most of the organ is hidden from view by the grillwork on both sides of the Chancel and on the west wall of the gallery. The visible pipes overhead are the Trompette en chamade.

A total of seven steps - the Biblical number for perfection - ascend to the white stone Communion Table on which are engraved the Cross, the Paschal Lamb, the Dove of the Holy Spirit, and on either end, the Alpha and the Omega. Surrounding the Table are the Elders' Stalls in which the members of the Kirk Session sit for the celebration of Holy Communion. The stalls are surmounted by hand-carved heads whose faces express the commandment of Jesus to his followers to "watch and pray". On the ceiling you may discover the symbols of Holy Communion: the Cross, the Chalice, the Crown and the Dove. The silver cross on the Communion Table was a gift of Wayne Riddell, Director of Music Emeritus.

The Quiet Garden

Lord, thy call we answer. Take us in thy care. Train us in thy garden. In thy work to share.

Between the church and the Musée des beaux arts to the east, is the Quiet Garden, a bicentennial project that opened in 2003. It provides a haven for reflection in this busy downtown neighbourhood. During the summer, it is often the site for Bible Study and post-service receptions. The entrance off Sherbrooke Street is open seasonally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Our Quiet Garden is a spiritual oasis in the city; a place for busy people to find a quiet interlude for prayer and meditation. Everyone is welcome to enter into this beautiful and secure space. It is filled with life and growth and colour, reminders of God's reassuring work in our world. We hope that in our garden, visitors, friends and neighbours will find solace, serenity and the radiant presence of our risen Lord, who first came to his followers in a garden.

Our History

Tradition and Change...

The first Presbyterian service in Montreal was held in 1787. In 1803, when the city's population was about 9,000, St. Andrew's Church was founded near the present site of city hall on Notre Dame Street. St. Paul's Church was opened nearby in 1843. In 1853, as Montreal grew, St. Andrew's built a new church on Beaver Hall Hill (on the present site of a Bell Canada building). In 1867, St. Paul's Church also decided to move and they built on a site on Dorchester Boulevard, (now boulevard René Lévesque) near today’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel. By 1918, the two congregations decided to unite and the present building was erected in 1931-32. The former St. Paul's church was dismantled and reconstructed just south of the present site of Vanier College in Ville St-Laurent, where it now serves as a museum.

As part of our church's bicentennial in 2003, The Rev. Dr. J.S.S. Armour published Saints, Sinners and Scots, a history of our congregation. It is available at the Book Stall in the Narthex.

The Black Watch

On the first Sunday each May, The Black Watch of Canada (Royal Highland Regiment) marches in its annual Church Parade along Sherbrooke Street from the Bleury Street Armoury to The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul and back again. All are welcome to share this testament to peace.

This historic regiment has a long association with our church. Their presence honours the many members of our congregation who have given their lives in our defence. Their names are inscribed on our walls. The Colours (flags) of the Regiment hang in our Sanctuary to represent their sacrifice in defending the peace we cherish and our freedom to worship in liberty.

You can also see other instances of symbolism in the Church Parade. Soldiers march to the church - the army comes humbly to God's house. They lay down their Colours, which are a record of history, on the Lord's Table and worship in peace. The Commanding Officer reads the Lesson, acknowledgement of the dominion of God's word. The haunting bagpipe lament during the service mourns those who have died in honour, its sound fading as a reminder to never forget their sacrifice. The Sermon by the Regiment's Chaplain reminds us of the supremacy of Christ's message to the world. As the service ends, the regiment carries its Colours, furled as they depart from the Sanctuary, ready once again - as in our national anthem's call to duty - to stand on guard for us.

You will find more information about The Black Watch at their website.

Ministers, Staff and Collaborators

Lead Minister

Rev. Dr. Glenn A. Chestnutt

The Rev. Dr. Glenn A. Chestnutt has been a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, having grown up in Dervock, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. He began his career as a teacher after qualifying with a B.A. (University of Ulster) and then a D.A.S.E (Queen's University Belfast) before sensing a call to ministry within the Church. He was ordained as a minister in the Church of Scotland in 2009. He completed the Master of Divinity and the Master of Theology degrees at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. From there, he went on to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in the area of Systematic Theology, focusing on the theology of Karl Barth. He has won several awards including the Princeton Seminary Jagow Scholarship in Preaching. His publications include one book and several articles. Glenn has served on numerous committees of the Church of Scotland as well as various ecumenical initiatives. Glenn is married to Hannah and they have one son, Rowan.

Associate Minister

Rev. Susan Brasier

Susan graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in May 2019. After completing an extended unit in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, she worked as interim lead minister at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Prior to her time at the seminary, she worked as a trial lawyer for many years in the U.S.A. Susan also has teaching experience and mediation and negotiation training. She likes to bake cookies, run marathons, read, quilt and has a passion for the visual arts.

Director of Church School

Sharon Dworzak

Mrs. Dworzak has 22 years of teaching experience, including teaching children with special needs, and has taught Sunday School since her late teens and was Sunday School Superintendent as well as Youth Leader for two groups prior to teaching our Church School since 2003. Her main goal for the Church School is to help the children grow in Faith with a strong emphasis on scripture, having the children discover how the Bible relates to their daily lives, thus encouraging them to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

Office Manager & Communications Coordinator

Miranda Huybers

Miranda is originally from Nova Scotia. She completed her BA from The University of New Brunswick in 2021 and moved to Montreal in 2022 to pursue her Master of Information Studies at McGill University, which she completed in 2024. It was during this time that Miranda began working at A&P. When she is not pulling all the components together to publish our weekly bulletin in time for our Sunday Services, she is designing graphics, managing our social media and website, and taking care of the numerous day-to-day activities of the church. And in her spare moments, you may find her processing collections from our very own church archives.

Administrative Assistant & Accountant

Stephen Hogan

Stephen Hogan serves as the Accountant and Administrative Assistant for The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. Stephen began his professional career as a Special Care Counselor, serving in that role for twenty years, working with children, teens, and seniors. Through this career, he developed a strong sense of responsibility, organization, and care for others. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephen transitioned into the field of accounting when a church and a condominium corporation required financial and administrative assistance during a time of uncertainty. What began as a response to an urgent need grew into a newfound passion. In September 2024, Stephen returned to school at the West Island Career Centre, completing a one-year accounting program, which reaffirmed his commitment to this new professional pathway. Stephen is grateful to serve the A&P community and to support its work.

Church Officer

Peter Sabourin

As Church Officer, Peter is known for being the main resource person at the church. If you locate him, he'll probably smile and tell you what latest projects that he's indulged in. DON'T bring up heating systems, he'll talk your ears off. Sundays, he is Our Beloved Church Beadle, preparing the Church for Sunday Worship and is the care-taker of the "Word" (our church Bible).

Audio Visual Specialist

Stratsimir Dimitrov

If you sit up in the gallery during our worship services, you will see Stratsi hard at work operating the sophisticated audio visual equipment that is used to produce the live broadcast of our worship services, concerts and other church activities, as well as the recordings. Stratsi also uses his considerable experience and skills to expertly set up, maintain and operate all the microphones, monitors, projectors, lighting and sound equipment used in our meeting rooms and Kildonan Hall. In addition, he doubles as a cameraman to produce and edit many of the promotional videos of our church activities which we post on our website and social media. Stratsi is an invaluable member of our team allowing our ministers and congregation to reach out across the world to share God’s message of compassion and hope.

Assistant to the church officer

Jason Aumond

As the Assistant to the Church Officer, Jason can often be found working on all sorts of odd jobs around the church. Give him a wave and say hi if you see him working on the grass or in the gardens.

Music Staff

Director of Music & Choir Manager

Stephanie Manias

Based in Montreal, soprano Stephanie Manias is heard regularly as a soloist and chorister with some of Canada’s most celebrated ensembles, such as la Chapelle de Québec, The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, and l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. Stephanie is at ease in many styles of music, and specializes in music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. A recent tour saw Stephanie performing with chamber ensemble La Cigale in Quebec, British Columbia, and Mexico. She also recently made her National Arts Centre and Carnegie Hall debuts. A prolific and versatile performer, she has been deemed at turns “angelic” and “fiery” (Montreal Gazette). Stephanie has been a member of The Choir of The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul since 2008. Here, she has performed as a soloist in orchestral masterpieces by Bach, Handel, and Mozart, among others. Since 2016, she has held various management positions in the A&P Music Department and was appointed Director of Music in June 2025, where her passions for clear communication, musical excellence, and spreadsheets converge.

Choir Conductor

Léa Moisan-Perrier

Music Director and Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Léa Moisan-Perrier is recognized for her vibrant stage presence, the sensitivity of her interpretations, the originality of her programming, and her ability to connect with both musicians and audiences. The 2026–2027 season sees debut engagements with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre philharmonique du Québec, and the Ontario Philharmonic. A frequent guest conductor, she has collaborated with leading ensembles including Orchestre symphonique de Laval, Orchestre classique de Montréal, and Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, among others. Moisan-Perrier was appointed Assistant Conductor to Yannick Nézet-Séguin for the 2025–2026 season, following two years as a member of the Orchestre Métropolitain Conducting Academy. After the success of her debut on the podium with OM in December 2025, her appointment was renewed for a second season. Léa’s operatic experience includes significant credits as an assistant conductor at Opéra national du Rhin (Offenbach’s Barkouf), and Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie (Massenet’s Grisélidis). Additionally, she has served as Assistant Conductor to Yannick Nézet-Séguin for the Orchestre Métropolitain and Festival de Lanaudière co-productions of Aida, Macbeth, and Tristan und Isolde. Since 2025, she conducts the productions of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal Opera Workshop and, next season, returns to assists Nézet-Séguin for Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, presented in collaboration with Opéra de Montréal. In addition to her orchestral work, Moisan-Perrier serves as the conductor of Montréal’s Choir of The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. Her dynamic leadership and refined musicianship has supported collaborations with organizations like Ensemble Caprice and the Musicians’ Association of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for ambitious repertoire across the choral canon. A graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Léa completed her Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting, after graduating with a Master’s in Choral Conducting (Université de Sherbrooke), a Bachelor’s in Classical Voice (Université de Montréal) and Piano Performance (Conservatoire). She is an Associate Conductor with Tapestry Opera’s groundbreaking Women in Musical Leadership Program.

Associate Conductor

Thomas Le Duc-Moreau

With an infectious enthusiasm, young conductor Thomas Le Duc-Moreau leads with remarkable precision and artistic sensitivity, creating an effective and human symbiosis that is deeply appreciated by both musicians and audiences alike. Immediately after graduating from the Conservatoire, Thomas held assistant conductor positions with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. First serving as assistant to Music Director Kent Nagano from 2019 to 2021, Thomas has conducted more than fifty concerts with the OSM since the beginning of his career. In opera, he has conducted three productions at the Festival d’Opéra de Québec : Offenbach’s La Vie parisienne, Messe solennelle pour une pleine lune d’été by Christian Thomas (based on a play by Michel Tremblay), and Yourcenar – Une île de passions by Éric Champagne. In symphonic concerts, Thomas has conducted major Quebec and Canadian orchestras such as Les Violons du Roy and the Orchestre Métropolitain, as well as the symphony orchestras of Agora, Laval, Montreal, Quebec City, Rimouski, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Hamilton, and Kitchener-Waterloo. He has also led the orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague, Czech Republic. Thomas is a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where he studied cello with Carole Sirois and orchestral conducting with Jacques Lacombe. In 2022, he was awarded the inaugural Joseph-Rouleau Prize by the Fondation du Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec in recognition of his promising early career.

Organist-In-Residence

Isabelle Demers

A native of Québec and a doctoral graduate of the Juilliard School, Isabelle Demers is Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University (Montréal, Québec). She was formerly the Joyce Bowden Chair in Organ and Head of the Organ Program at Baylor University (Waco, Texas). She has appeared in recital throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, and was recently a featured performer of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Dr. Demers is in continual high demand by her colleagues as witnessed by performances for numerous regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Institute of Organ Builders and International Society of Organbuilders, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and the Organ Historical Society. She has released multiple CD recordings on the Acis and Pro Organo labels.

Associate Organist & Assistant Conductor

Manuel Piazza

Manuel Piazza joins us from St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Toronto, where he served as Assistant Director of Music from 2023 to 2026 and founded the parish's children's chorister program, the St. Thomas's Choristers. Manuel completed his BMus at the University of Toronto, studying with John Tuttle and serving as choir director and organist at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, organ scholar at Trinity College (UofT), organ scholar at St. James’ Cathedral, and an organist at St. Michael's Cathedral. The next year, he was organ scholar at Truro Cathedral, where he played for Evensong thrice weekly under the direction of Christopher Gray. In May 2022, he graduated with an MM from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he studied repertoire with Martin Jean, improvisation with Jeffrey Brillhart, and conducting with Gloria Yin and Dale Adelmann. Additionally, he was organ scholar at Trinity Church on the Green, under Walden Moore, and accompanist to the Schola Cantorum, under David Hill. Following graduation, he was Interim ADoM at Trinity Church, Boston, working with Colin Lynch. Manuel’s playing has been praised for its “seamless registration changes ... imaginative stop selections, smoothly shifting tone colours … (and) abundant energy” in Organ Canada. He won first prize in the 2021 RCCO National Competition and second prize in the 2024 Elizabeth B Stephens International Competition. Other awards include the Godfrey Hewitt Memorial Scholarship, the Mary Baker Scholarship in Organ Accompanying, the Julia R. Sherman Memorial Prize for excellence in organ playing, the Aidan Kavanagh Prize for Academic Achievement, and the Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Prize. Manuel Piazza is a student of Isabelle Demers at McGill University.

Organ Scholar

Áron Sipos

Originally from Budapest, Hungary, Áron Sipos is currently an undergraduate student at McGill University, where he studies organ with Isabelle Demers. Previously Áron studied organ with László Stachó and Ferenc Monostori, and music theory and composition with Boglárka Terray and Márton Levente Horváth. Between 2021 and 2023, Áron was organist at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic church in Ecser, Hungary. Since his arrival in Canada, Áron has been organ scholar at The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montréal under the guidance of Interim Director of Music Stephanie Manias and conductor Léa Moisan-Perrier. At the church Áron helps the Director of Music with the organization of the library, plays for Sunday services once or twice a month in addition to smaller weekday services, and assists the music team in rehearsals and other events as needed. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Áron was also organist at the chapel of the Montréal Diocesan College. Áron is the recipient of third place and a special distinction for sight-reading in the 2022 National Hungarian organ competition. In 2024, Áron appeared in a solo recital at The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul as part of their Organ Intermezzi Summer Organ Concert series, as well as two solo recitals in Budapest. Áron is recipient of multiple awards and scholarships, including McGill University’s Hugh Brock and Schulich scholarships, and Cambridge University’s Undergraduate Trust. A student with varied interests, Áron is also profoundly interested in history, mathematics and philosophy.

Leading with Care

A Policy for Ensuring a Climate of Safety for Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

We are committed to providing safe and compassionate environments for all people, in particular all children, youth, and vulnerable adults who participate in the church's programs and ministries and/or use the church's facilities.

THIS POLICY IS TITLED LEADING WITH CARE BECAUSE:
Our Lord modeled for us how to lead with care as he healed the sick and infirm, and welcomed the young, the weak, and the vulnerable.
It is our awareness that some people in our church need special protection.
It affirms our commitment to training and supporting teachers and leaders in our church so they can effectively and compassionately support this policy.

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