Central United Church
Encyclopedia
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...
located in the community of Weston, now a neighbourhood of 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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in , the church has occupied the same site on Weston Road
Weston Road
Weston Road is a north-south street in west end Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The route is named for the former Village of Weston, which was located near Weston Road and Lawrence Avenue West....
in Toronto since then.
The congregation began as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a forerunner of both the Methodist Church of Canada (1884) and the United Church of Canada (1925). The first church building, a log structure, was erected in 1821, followed by a larger brick church constructed in 1849. The present building, dedicated in 1887, and built in the Gothic Revival style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
, has been altered and updated on several occasions, but retains the landmark tower. The tower includes examples of abat-sons. The church was one of the final projects of William Henry Mallory Sr., architect.
The congregation has a unique musical heritage. The organ, constructed by Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
, was dedicated in 1950 as a memorial to members of the congregation who gave their lives in the Second World War. The Chancellors, a youth choir active from 1968 to 1980, produced five record albums and toured extensively.
The congregation has been served by several notable clergy, including Egerton Ryerson
Egerton Ryerson
Adolphus Egerton Ryerson was a Methodist minister, educator, politician, and public education advocate in early Ontario, Canada...
, historian George Playter
George Playter
George Frederick Playter was a Canadian minister, historian, and author who wrote "The History of Methodism in Canada: With an Account of the Rise and Progress of the Work of God Among the Canadian Indian Tribes ; and Occasional Notices of the Civil Affairs of the Province." It was published in...
and E.A. Pearson, the father of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
.
Today, the church is well-known for outreach into the community through the Weston King Neighbourhood Centre. The Centre provides meals, education and advocacy.
Michael Kooiman is the minister of Central United Church.
See also
- List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto
- List of United Church of Canada churches in Toronto