Our History

The history of the APC Vancouver congregation goes back to 1916 when Rev. Donald Beaton [of the Free Presbyterian Church (FPC), Scotland] was invited by Mr. Hugh Mackay and several other Scottish immigrants to come to Vancouver and conduct services.

In 1922, the Vancouver congregation was formed. Mr. Donald Matheson (a lay missionary) and Mr. Hugh Mackay (elder) sustained the congregation and took the services (1922-1928). Between 1922 and 1952, pulpit supply and other ministerial functions were provided by ministers from Scotland.

In 1952, the Rev. Dr. MacDonald arrived in Vancouver after having served as a medical missionary for years in Zimbabwe. He ministered in Vancouver until 1970. In 1975, Rev. Douglas Beattie came from Scotland to take up his pastoral charge in Vancouver the Lord blessed his lengthy ministry among us. He served our congregation until 2002 while also being active as a teacher and professor of Greek in several training centres in the region. From 2002-2006, Rev. Jerold Lewis served as our pastor and he was succeeded by Rev. Fletcher Matandika who served from 2008-2016. Rev. Norman Van Eeden Petersman served the congregation from 2017-2022.

Our current pastor is Rev. David Matthess, who moved with his wife and son to Vancouver in November, 2014. He formerly served as associate pastor of Bury St. Edmunds Presbyterian Church in the United Kingdom.

Our congregation left the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1989 in order to join the newly-formed Associated Presbyterian Churches of Scotland. In April 2023, the congregation joined the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada, a newly formed Reformed Presbyterian Church for Canada, set up by former churches of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.