After spending the first eleven years of his ministry in the Church of Scotland, Dr. Hutchison was called to St. Paul's in September 1957. Although new to Peterborough, Canada was not unknown to him as he had trained in this country during his years with the R.A.F.
While considered to be the quiet, scholarly type, Rev. Hutchison, right from the start, both verbally and by the written word, challenged the congregation with his call for recommitment., “if we are to advance.” “Or are we satisfied with the not inconsiderable achievements of the past and the comfortable churchianity of the present.” While it was always a source of amazement to him at the amount of service rendered to the church by many of the members, he was also well aware of the “vast potential which remained untapped.”
The congregation rose to his challenges as evidenced by the projects both spiritual and temporal that were accomplished during his tenure at St. Paul's. In those three short years he saw the building of a new manse and the addition to the church of a Christian Education Centre. While in those years he was also working on his Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Toronto, it was still quite a surprise to all concerned when he announced his resignation, to become Headmaster of Stanstead College, Stanstead, Quebec, in September 1960.
One of his last messages to the congregation should be noted here: “A Roman sage once remarked that ‘the passing years take something from each of us.’ That isn't exactly new. Time has a habit of taking things from us, our youth, for instance, and there's nothing we can do about it. (Except, try and retain the youthful spirit.) But let me remind you that the passing years give something to each of us. To some people they bring a sense of frustration; to others a loss of enthusiasm for the things of Christ; to others a harsh and intolerant attitude to other people. All this is tragic – and so unnecessary – for to those who are receptive, the passing years can bring a richer measure of serenity, a deeper sense of the worthwhileness of life, and a wider vision. Has the past year brought you these things? If not, is the fault your own or your Church’s? If so, what new channels have you dug to express this greater sense of well-being?”