Religious institution.

Details of Site Location: The southeast corner of Avenue Road and Webster, south of Davenport Road.

Boundary History: The church building faced out on Avenue Road with only a small setback, subsequently decreased by the widening of Avenue Road. The building extended along the south side of Webster Avenue, and a rectory at the rear completed the complex.

Historical Description: Methodism arrived in Yorkville in the 1840s, according to the city directories, and there were many varieties, most of which had to use rented space in their earliest years. One of these congregations grew too large for their quarters on Sydenham Street (now Cumberland) and, in 1866, built a fine church at the northwest corner of Yonge and Davenport. It was a congregation of Primitive Methodists, and they remained at this location until 1910. A merger within Methodism had occurred in 1884, and the church building took its name from one of the other congregations joining the one at Yonge: St. Paul’s. Avenue Road had been formally laid out in 1868 but was a much older street. Builder George H. White bought a number of lots from the Clergy Reserve that had Avenue Road as its centre. Three lots on Avenue Road, each 33′ x 140′, and four lots fronting on Webster, each 22′ x 100′, were purchased by St. Paul’s Board with an eye to building a much larger church to accommodate the swelling congregation and growing community around. Architects James Smith and John Gemmell were hired to design the building. In modernized Gothic it was built with “white brick” (actually a soft yellow) from the Yorkville brickyards. The church was officially opened on 20 November 1887 by the famous Reverend John Potts, who was President of the Toronto Methodist Conference and a director of the Toronto Savings and Loan Company. It was the first building in the city to have glass doors. A large vestibule had staircases leading to the gallery, which was elliptical in shape. Pews were arranged semi-circularly on a raking floor. The ceiling was arched and groined in plaster and upheld by eight slender iron pillars. Gasoliers, brackets, and sconces illuminated the interior. Pews were of chestnut and ornamental iron. In 1890, painter Gustav Hahn was hired to paint the ceiling with murals, and the result was a stunning masterwork of Art Nouveau – one of the finest ceilings in Canada. Hahn also hand-painted the organ pipes and a number of other items in the church. Mergers among the churches continued, and the congregation from Avenue Road at the northeast corner of Roxborough, Presbyterians, joined St. Paul’s In 1930, the church changed its name to St. Paul’s Avenue Road United. In 1907, the huge funeral of Timothy Eaton was held from St. Paul’s. In 1959, the new Metropolitan government widened Avenue Road and the first threats to the church began. The City of Toronto designated the building. As the hippie and coffeehouse era began, more and more people were being drawn to Yorkville but not churchgoers. Folk songs were being sung in the coffeehouses, and chamber music and other concerts were offered in the church in the hope that funds could be generated to save the building. Developers were moving into both Yorkville and the Annex in the 1970s, and an offer was made to the church Board. The congregation merged with Trinity United on Bloor Street and the church property was sold to a developer. He formed a consortium that squeezed him out and the threats to the property mounted. Vigorous opposition to change came from across the city, from local organizations, and from the arts community. But the die was cast. On 24 April 1995, arsonists set several fires in the church and it was gutted. Despite pleas from the local community to preserve what was left and create a park on the property, City Council agreed to allow the redevelopment of the site. The Webster Avenue frontage has now a row of townhouses, and the Avenue Road frontage still has hoarding around it. During the demolition of the remaining ruins, much of the stonework and iron details were scavenged by those connected to the arsonists. Some charges were laid. But the damage was done.

Relative Importance: This church was on the brink of being declared a National Historic Site – a measure of its architectural and artistic importance. Its importance to the community remains at a high level.

Planning Implications: Community requests for a park at the site should be honoured, and a plaque should be mounted therein, explaining the entire history of the congregation and building.

Reference Sources: John Ross Robertson, Landmarks of Toronto; Toronto Registry Office land records; Hahn family sources.

Acknowledgements: Community History Project.