WITH a long history going back well over a century, St Andrews Presbyterian Church has been a major part of the skyline of Hamilton, orientating people by being one of the town’s twin towers, next to the Anglican Church on the opposite corner.

The guest speaker at the Hamilton History Centre’s next general meeting on Tuesday, May 9 at 7.30pm at 43 Gray Street will be the Rev David Schulz, who is the current minister at St Andrews Presbyterian Church.

David will be speaking on its history - the present church building was started in 1907 and the memorial stone was laid on December 18, 1907, by Mr James Thomson of Monivae.

The Church opened for worship in early 1909.

The original congregation began in 1854 but it was not until 1857 that the first church building was opened.

Then in 1861 because of a tornado which swept through the district, the church was unroofed and the roof fell inward and completely wrecked the interior.

The result of this was the church was rebuilt by extending it and also adding the signature tower.