Church of the Redeemer (Toronto)

Last updated

Church of the Redeemer
DSC09147 - Church of the Redeemer (36384621704).jpg
Front of the church building in 2017
Church of the Redeemer (Toronto)
43°40′09″N79°23′38″W / 43.6691°N 79.3940°W / 43.6691; -79.3940
Location162 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Denomination Anglican Church of Canada
Weekly attendance300–500 (average Sunday)
Website theredeemer.ca
History
Dedication Christ the Redeemer
Architecture
Architect(s) Smith & Gemmell
Style Gothic Revival
Administration
Province Ontario
Diocese Toronto
Deanery St. James
Clergy
Rector Steven Mackison [1]
Priest(s) Susan Haig
Laity
Director of music Dan Norman

The Church of the Redeemer is an Anglican church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The small church is prominently located at the intersection of Bloor Street and Avenue Road, near the Royal Ontario Museum. [2] The Gothic Revival style building opened on June 15, 1879. [3]

Contents

Overview

Creation

The church's creation was a result of the division of the old parish of St. Paul's on April 23, 1867, in order to accommodate a growing congregation. [3] Prior to this, St. Paul's Church on Bloor Street had been the main parish church. [3] [4] Yonge Street was chosen as the dividing line between the old and new parishes. [3]

The property for a new church building was purchased at the corner of Bloor and Avenue streets from a Mr. Alcorn for less than $10,000. The first corner stone of the church was laid in 1878 and the church opened for service on June 15, 1879. [3]

Recent history

The church was granted heritage status by the City of Toronto in 1973. [5] As with many other downtown churches, the Church of the Redeemer suffered from falling attendance in the late twentieth century. The church ran into severe financial difficulties and, in 1979, the parish voluntarily disestablished itself and was taken over by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. The church lands were sold to developers and the massive Four Seasons Renaissance Centre was built on them.

With the money from this deal, the church was again solvent and regained its independence. The money also paid for much needed renovations. In 2000, the church launched a major renovation project as extra meeting space and offices were constructed under the building.

The church is known for its progressive stance on social issues, especially gay rights. In 1998, the congregation published An Honourable Estate: Same Sex Unions and the Church, advocating the blessing of same-sex unions. Integrity Toronto worships in the church. The parish uses exclusively the Book of Alternative Services .

The church is noted by passersby for its prominent sign, often featuring a quotation or thought for meditation. The church is also known to host a range of musical events and concerts. For example, Canadian group Great Lake Swimmers played two shows at the Church of the Redeemer on April 14, 2007.

Architecture

The church was built in a Gothic Revival style with a High Victorian interpretation. [4] It was designed by architects Smith & Gemmell. [4] [5] The exterior is faced with stone and is distinguished by its pointed bell-gable. [5]

The High Victorian style is especially marked in the interior, which is in yellow and red brick. [4] The bands of red brick are used for ornamental effect. [3] Granite columns mark the transept, and prominent wooden brackets support the ceiling. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian architecture</span> Series of architectural revival styles

Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. Victorian refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction. However, many elements of what is typically termed "Victorian" architecture did not become popular until later in Victoria's reign, roughly from 1850 and later. The styles often included interpretations and eclectic revivals of historic styles (see Historicism). The name represents the British and French custom of naming architectural styles for a reigning monarch. Within this naming and classification scheme, it followed Georgian architecture and later Regency architecture, and was succeeded by Edwardian architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto)</span> Church in Toronto, Ontario

The Cathedral Church of St. James is an Anglican cathedral in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the location of the oldest congregation in the city, with the parish being established in 1797. The church, with construction beginning in 1850 and opening for services on June 19, 1853, was one of the largest buildings in the city at that time. It was designed by Frederick William Cumberland and is a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Holy Trinity (Toronto)</span> Church

The Church of the Holy Trinity is an Anglican church located at Trinity Square in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Andrew's Church (Toronto)</span> Church in Toronto, Ontario

St. Andrew's Church is a historic Presbyterian church located at the corner of King Street West and Simcoe Street in the city's downtown core of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was designed by William George Storm in the Romanesque Revival style and completed in 1876.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Trinity Anglican Church</span> Church in Toronto, Ontario

Little Trinity Anglican Church is a parish church of the Anglican Church of Canada. It is located at 425 King Street East in the Corktown neighbourhood, just east of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. An Ontario Heritage Trust plaque at the site notes that the 1844 church is the oldest surviving church in the city.

The Diocese of Toronto is an administrative division of the Anglican Church of Canada covering the central part of southern Ontario. It was founded in 1839 and is the oldest of the seven dioceses comprising the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. It has the most members of any Anglican diocese in Canada. It is also one of the biggest Anglican dioceses in the Americas in terms of numbers of parishioners, clergy and parishes. As of 2018, the diocese has around 230 congregations and ministries in 183 parishes, with approximately 54,000 Anglicans identified on parish rolls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Toronto</span> Overview of the architecture of Toronto

The architecture of Toronto is an eclectic combination of architectural styles, ranging from 19th century Georgian architecture to 21st century postmodern architecture and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Toronto)</span>

Yorkminster Park Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Toronto's Deer Park, Canada. It is affiliated with Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Park North</span> Neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

High Park North, or often simply High Park, after the park, is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded on the south by Bloor Street, on the west by Runnymede Road, on the north by Annette Street, Quebec Avenue and Humberside Avenue, and on the east by the GO Transit Weston Subdivision rail tracks. It is located in the Parkdale—High Park provincial and federal electoral districts. The area east of Keele Street is also known informally as the "West Bend" neighbourhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul's, Bloor Street</span> Anglican church in Toronto, Ontario

St. Paul's Bloor Street is an Anglican church located at 227 Bloor Street East in Toronto, Ontario. The present church building, completed in 1913, was designed by E. J. Lennox in the Gothic Revival style. At 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft), it is the largest church in the Diocese of Toronto. The building is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as being of cultural heritage value or interest. It is the regimental church of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Church of Christ, Scientist (Toronto)</span>

The First Church of Christ, Scientist is the oldest Christian Science congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 196 St. George St. in The Annex neighbourhood, just north of the University of Toronto. It maintains a Reading Room at 927 Yonge Street north of Bloor. The church is a branch of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoch Turner School</span> Ontario Heritage Trust historic site and museum in Ontario, Canada

Enoch Turner Schoolhouse is a historic site and museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a former school owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust. The school was built in 1848 when it was known as the Ward School. The building is located at 106 Trinity Street between King Street East and Eastern Avenue. It is the oldest school standing in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadway Methodist Tabernacle</span>

Broadway Methodist Tabernacle was a prominent Methodist church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that existed from 1872 to 1924. The congregation was originally housed in a wood chapel at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street, which at that time was known as St. Patrick Street. It was originally named the Spadina Avenue Methodist Church. Rapid growth in the congregation saw it seek a new home, and in 1876 a larger lot was purchased at the northeast corner of Spadina and College Street. The wooden church was transported on rollers north to the new location. The old site eventually became the location of the Standard Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Street Baptist Church</span>

Alexander Street Baptist Church was a Baptist church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located on the south side of Alexander Street between Yonge and Church streets. The congregation was founded in 1866 and the church building, designed by Henry Langley, was completed the following year. When the congregation relocated in 1888, it was sold to the Anglican Church and eventually demolished in the mid-1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walmer Road Baptist Church</span> Church building in Toronto, Canada

Walmer Road Baptist Church is a Baptist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is affiliated with Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. James on-the-Lines</span> Church in Ontario, Canada

St. James on-the-Lines is a historic Anglican garrison church in Penetanguishene, Ontario. The church is still in use today serving as the Anglican parish church in Penetanguishene for services from Easter to Thanksgiving. The church is protected by a heritage conservation easement under the Ontario Heritage Act. There are two suggested origins for its full name. The first suggestion comes from its location on the lines of communication or road from the former military establishment at Penetanguishene to the south. The second possible meaning is from the old Victorian military usage of Lines for the rows of tents or buildings in a military camp. The church was constructed close to the original military establishment buildings which lined the road.

The East Mitchell Street Historic District is a residential historic district located in Petoskey, Michigan. It is roughly bounded by Rose, Kalamazoo, State, Howard, Michigan, and Division streets. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Anglican Church, Waverley</span> Church in New South Wales, Australia

St Mary's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church and associated facilities located at 240 Birrell Street, Waverley, in the Waverley Municipality, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The church was designed by Edmund Blacket and built between 1863 and 1864. It is very well known and sought after as a place to be married and is popular for funerals. The building is also notable due its pipe organ, designed and built by August Gern. The property is used for ministry by the Anglican Parish of Bondi and Waverley, which is an amalgamation of two previous Parishes ; The first Rector of St Mary’s Waverley, Rev Stanley Mitchell, was a keen Evangelical and although he used traditional Anglican liturgy was “low church” like most of Sydney Diocese. However there has been a long history of more “High” Anglicanism and Anglo Catholic theological underpinnings. Since 2014, the church has returned to a strongly evangelical base while running a very strong traditional 1662 prayer book communion service every Sunday. It also has less traditional al services to accommodate more contemporary congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Matthew's Anglican Church (Toronto)</span> Church in Toronto, Ontario

St. Matthew's Anglican Church is a church in Riverdale, Toronto, located at 135 First Avenue. It has been listed on the Ontario Heritage Register, pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act, since October 27, 2009. It was designed by Strickland & Symons, a partnership between Walter Reginald Strickland and William L. Symons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church</span> Church in Ontario, Canada

St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church is an Anglican Church of Canada parish church in the Kensington Market neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. It was the first Anglican church established in the city west of Spadina Avenue. St. Stephen's is known for a number of community outreach programs.

References

  1. "Redeemer, Bloor St". Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  2. "Get in touch". The Redeemer Toronto. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robertson, John Ross (1904). Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto: a collection of historical sketches of the old town of York from 1792 until 1837 and of Toronto from 1834 to 1904. Toronto : J. Ross Robertson. p. 40.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 McHugh, Patricia; Bozikovic, Alex (2017). Toronto Architecture: A City Guide. McClelland & Stewart. p. 205. ISBN   978-0-7710-5990-2.
  5. 1 2 3 "Church of the Redeemer - Over 140 Years Old". TorontoJourney416. September 7, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2023.