Bloor Street United Church
Encyclopedia
Bloor Street United Church is a United Church of Canada
church (William R. Gregg, Architect) located at 300 Bloor Street
West in downtown Toronto
, near the intersection with Huron Street. It is just north of the University of Toronto
, and between the Spadina
and St. George
Subway Stations.
As with many of the downtown Toronto churches, Bloor United is today noted for its progressivism
. Three Bloor Street ministers have become Moderator of the United Church of Canada
, George C. Pidgeon
, Ernest M. Howse
, and Bruce McLeod
.The affirming congregation is currently led by Reverend Martha Ter Kuile. The church has a large choir and a strong music program led by David Passmore. The congregation has a strong commitment to helping refugees, and has a program devoted to helping Latin American refugees become permanent members of Canadian society. In addition, there are groups dedicated to helping grandmothers caring for AIDS orphans in Africa.
The children's program includes Sunday school classes for ages 4- 18, with a special tween/teen group called Youth on Bloor.
congregation in 1887 to serve the rapidly growing population of then-northern Toronto with the church building opening in 1890. In 1924, the church voted by a substantial majority to join the United Church. Three years later, a portion of the church was demolished when the City decided to widen Bloor Street.
The church grew greatly in size in the 1940s and 1950s as an influx of immigrants arrived in the area. The congregation was so large that on several occasions Massey Hall
was rented to hold some services. It was decided to renovate the church, however, in 1954 as these were nearing completion a fire broke out and the church was badly damaged and most of the sanctuary destroyed. Money was quickly raised to rebuild the church and in the interim the congregation met at nearby churches and Convocation Hall
.
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
church (William R. Gregg, Architect) located at 300 Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
West in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, near the intersection with Huron Street. It is just north of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and between the Spadina
Spadina (TTC)
Spadina is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Out of all the interchange stations, this one is the least-used with approximately 47,570 people using both platforms each day...
and St. George
St. George (TTC)
St. George is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 323 Bloor Street West at St. George Street. This is the second busiest station, after Bloor-Yonge Station, serving a combined total of approximately ...
Subway Stations.
As with many of the downtown Toronto churches, Bloor United is today noted for its progressivism
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
. Three Bloor Street ministers have become Moderator of the United Church of Canada
Moderator of the United Church of Canada
The Moderator of the United Church of Canada is the presiding leader of the United Church of Canada, Canada's largest Protestant denomination. The church is highly decentralized and non-dogmatic and the moderator has only limited power...
, George C. Pidgeon
George C. Pidgeon
The Very Reverend George Campbell Pidgeon was a minister first in the Presbyterian Church in Canada and then in The United Church of Canada, as well as the last Moderator of the Presbyterian Church before amalgamation, and the first Moderator of the newly formed United Church of Canada...
, Ernest M. Howse
Ernest M. Howse
The Very Rev. Ernest M. Howse was the 21st Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1964 to 1968. Howse was born in Newfoundland and studied in both Canada and Scotland before becoming the pastor of Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in California. He returned to Canada in 1935 to become the...
, and Bruce McLeod
Bruce McLeod
The Very Reverend N. Bruce McLeod is a former Moderator of the United Church of Canada . He has a doctorate in preaching from Union Theological Seminary in New York....
.The affirming congregation is currently led by Reverend Martha Ter Kuile. The church has a large choir and a strong music program led by David Passmore. The congregation has a strong commitment to helping refugees, and has a program devoted to helping Latin American refugees become permanent members of Canadian society. In addition, there are groups dedicated to helping grandmothers caring for AIDS orphans in Africa.
The children's program includes Sunday school classes for ages 4- 18, with a special tween/teen group called Youth on Bloor.
History
The church began as a PresbyterianPresbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
congregation in 1887 to serve the rapidly growing population of then-northern Toronto with the church building opening in 1890. In 1924, the church voted by a substantial majority to join the United Church. Three years later, a portion of the church was demolished when the City decided to widen Bloor Street.
The church grew greatly in size in the 1940s and 1950s as an influx of immigrants arrived in the area. The congregation was so large that on several occasions Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
was rented to hold some services. It was decided to renovate the church, however, in 1954 as these were nearing completion a fire broke out and the church was badly damaged and most of the sanctuary destroyed. Money was quickly raised to rebuild the church and in the interim the congregation met at nearby churches and Convocation Hall
Convocation Hall (University of Toronto)
Convocation Hall is a domed rotunda on the grounds of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Designed by Pearson and Darling and completed in 1907, it was inspired by the grand theatre of the Sorbonne and the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford...
.
External links
- Official site
- Mystery Worshipper Report at the Ship of Fools websiteShip of Fools (website)Ship of Fools is a UK-based Christian website. It was first launched as a magazine in 1977. The magazine folded in 1983 and was resurrected as a website on April Fool's Day, 1998. Subtitled "the magazine of Christian unrest", Ship of Fools pokes fun and asks critical questions about the Christian...