Doors Open Toronto

Doors Open Toronto returns on May 23-24, and nine Anglican sites are opening their doors to the public:

Church of the Messiah

A stunning example of Scottish baronial architecture designed by renowned architects Gordon & Helliwell, and completed in 1890. It features rough grey limestone and a massive battlemented tower. After a major fire in 1976, it was redesigned to preserve the original exterior while reconfiguring the interior for community use. Today, it serves as a neighbourhood hub, hosting the Avenue Road Food Bank, meetings, community celebrations and musical performances, as well as regular worship services. The second floor houses a daycare with the “Kingdom of Heaven” mural by well-known Toronto artist Susannah Bleasby, whose work also adorns SickKids Hospital. The Church of the Messiah is not usually open to the public, so it welcomes this opportunity for visitors to explore its rich history and contemporary use. Learn more about Messiah.

Holy Trinity, Trinity Square

Holy Trinity is one of the oldest Anglican churches in Toronto. Built to serve Irish immigrants fleeing famine in 1847, it has a long history of activism on behalf of and with those who find themselves on the margins of society. The accompaniment of neighbours with needs continues to this day. The Gothic-style building was damaged by fire in 1977, after which parishioners created and painted a striking new ceiling, and contemporary stained-glass windows were installed on the south wall. The Toronto Homeless Memorial and a public labyrinth are found outside the south doors on Trinity Square. Timothy P. Schmalz’s sculpture “I was in prison and you visited me” is located on the west steps of the church. Learn more about Holy Trinity.

St. Andrew by-the-Lake

St. Andrew by-the-Lake Anglican Church is a lovely neo-Gothic wood-framed church, surrounded by parkland and lagoons on Toronto Island. It holds services year-round on Sunday mornings. The building has beautiful acoustics and some stunning stained-glass windows. St. Andrew’s is the last remaining church on Toronto Island and will celebrate its 142nd anniversary this year. Learn more about St. Andrew by-the-Lake.

St. Barnabas, Chester

Explore the beautiful worship space, see its dramatic stained-glass windows, carved-oak reredos and altar, and painted ceilings and east wall, and get a glimpse of its history through its many plaques and dedications. Peruse exhibits about the history of the church, its building and its role as a gathering place for early immigrants from England, Scotland and Ireland, and, later in the 20th century, for immigrants from the Caribbean. The church’s archivist, assistant archivist and knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and point out features of interest. Volunteer musicians will perform periodically throughout the weekend to showcase the church’s excellent acoustics. Visitors are welcome to take photographs and video. Learn more about St. Barnabas.

St. George on-the-Hill

Perched on a hill between the villages of Lambton and Islington (formerly known as Mimico), St. George on-the-Hill has been a landmark in Etobicoke for 180 years. Built in 1847 in the plaster Gothic style, the church building has undergone many renovations but still incorporates the original structure in the centre of its worship space. Among the highlights are many stained-glass windows, including the more modern “Children of the Bible” window; a Casavant Frères pipe organ; the 1865 font and the parish’s 2.9-acre cemetery. Learn more about St. George on-the-Hill.

St. James Cathedral

St. James Cathedral is both a parish church ministering to the historic St. Lawrence neighbourhood and a cathedral (the church where the bishop’s chair or throne – the “cathedra” – is located). This makes it the spiritual centre of the diocese and a focal point for the civic life of Toronto, one of Canada’s most prominent cultural and financial centres. Known for its Gothic Revival architecture, its towering spire and the distinctive ring of its bells, the current Cathedral building was built of local brick and Ohio sandstone. It opened for services in 1853 after a fire destroyed the previous building. Learn more about St. James Cathedral.

St. James Cemetery and the Chapel of St. James-the-Less

St. Paul, Bloor Street

St. Paul’s Bloor Street is the largest historic parish church building in the world. The current sanctuary is the third church on this site, following a wooden structure built in 1842 and a stone church completed in 1860. As the congregation grew, the present church was constructed in 1913, designed by architect E. J. Lennox. Modelled in the early English Gothic style, its three-aisled Latin cross design creates a striking sense of space and grandeur, originally seating 2,500 people. The church is filled with stained glass and memorial plaques honouring some 500 members who served in the First World War. The renowned Casavant Frères organ continues to fill the space with music each week. A major renovation in 2006 unified three buildings into one cohesive space, now home to worship, concerts, community programs and events. Learn more about St. Paul, Bloor Street.

St. Thomas, Huron Street

St. Thomas was established in 1874 and was one of the earliest Anglo-Catholic parishes in Canada. It is well known for its liturgical and musical traditions. The congregation moved into the present building in 1893. Designed in the Arts and Crafts style by parishioner and renowned Toronto architect Eden Smith (1858-1949), it is constructed of red brick with a hammerbeam roof. Highlights include the stunning 20-foot-high reredos behind the high altar, containing hand-carved statues of nine saints, and the canopy over the Lady Chapel altar, both designed by architect and heraldic artist A. Scott Carter (1881-1968). The octagonal First World War memorial baptistery (also designed by Eden Smith and constructed between 1919 and 1922) is graced with five magnificent stained-glass windows by the Bromsgrove Guild of England. Learn more about St. Thomas, Huron Street.

Learn more about these churches and other sites across the city on the Doors Open Toronto website.