Toronto is the largest urban center in Canada, and like most major cities in the world the architecture is constantly evolving to suit the peoples needs. So when discussing Toronto’s architecture it is probably a good idea to start with some of the staples of the community. As with most of the cultures of North America an emphasis was placed on places of worship, and this city is no exception. One good example is Metropolitan United Church, the building was designed by Henry Langley in the Gothic Revival architecture style. Henry Langley is responsible for building several of the cities most impressive Churches and Cathedrals, and I am sure that I will be talking more about him latter in this series on Toronto’s architecture.
The Metropolitan United Church is located on Queen Street East at the corner of Church Street in the cities Garden District. The building was dedicated in 1872 , and with that the first service of the Methodist Church of Canada was held here on Sept 16th 1874. Today the progressive church is the largest in downtown Toronto, and welcomes people of any faith or orientation to their community.
The congregation was founded in 1818 and was originally Methodist, back then they had a small chapel on King Street West. The church quickly outgrew that location and moved in 1833 to a larger building on Adelaide Street, it then moved to its present location in 1872. Then in 1925 the Methodist Church of Canada merged with the Presbyterians and Congregationalists to form the United Church of Canada, and that’s when the church acquired its current name.
some of the stained glass windows from the inside
As with most churches of it’s time a very important part of the building is the carillon that normally consists of 23 or more bells. Over the years the churches carillon has grown to 54 bells, fortunately the design foresaw the possibility of the additional bells by having seven-foot thick walls at the base which taper as they go up. The church also had Canada’s largest pipe organ installed in 1930, following the fire which destroyed the previous organ. These two instruments, the organ and carillon, are an important part of the church and the community.
The church has a long and storied history of being a community leader and has been instrumental in helping the poor and less fortunate of the city. After World War One the church recognized the need for a community outreach program, and hired it’s own social worker. One of the churches most outspoken ministers Peter Bryce was able to get the Toronto Star newspaper to create a special Christmas program for families in need. To this day the Toronto Star Santa Claus fund raises over a million dollars every year.
The interior of the building is a beautiful example of the craftsmanship of the past, with all the hand turned wooden spires and an inspiring a central pulpit. No detail is spared right down to the hand carved miniature mice and other assorted woodland creatures. One could easily spend a couple of hours just exploring and photographing this treasure in the heart of the city.
Stay tuned with me as I explore other buildings of interest in and around Toronto. I will also by visiting many of the annual events that are held in the city everything from car shows to the no pants subway ride. So be sure to follow me if you are not already !