Church of the Messiah (Toronto)
Encyclopedia
The Church of The Messiah is an Anglican church in Toronto
, Canada
. The church is located at the corner of Avenue Road and Dupont Avenue. It was founded by members of the Church of the Redeemer further down Avenue Road on March 24, 1891. The building was designed by Gordon & Helliwell
along with a Rectory next door (which has not been owned by the Church for many years).
The church suffered a major fire in 1976 that gutted the building and destroyed the parish hall next door. The fire was determined to be arson by Toronto police and the perpetrator was convicted and jailed. The church was rebuilt preserving the original exterior appearance, however the interior was radically redesigned to maximize flexibility. As a result, the Church of The Messiah has a liturgical space that can be configured in several different ways. During the week the space is used for worship, community meetings (including several AA groups), dance and yoga classes, and a daycare.
Historically, the Church of The Messiah was a bastion of the low-church Anglicanism in Canada. Every Rector (or Incumbent) prior to the current one was a graduate of Wycliffe College
. Several of these were noted preachers and two went on to become Bishops. Currently, the church is known for a creative worship style, a diverse congregation, and an active children's program.
The current Incumbent is the Rev'd W. Tay Moss, AHC
, SCP
. Eric Osborne was the Minister of Music until 2011, and Ms. Kerrie Fulton is Director of Children's and Youth Ministry.
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...
, 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...
. The church is located at the corner of Avenue Road and Dupont Avenue. It was founded by members of the Church of the Redeemer further down Avenue Road on March 24, 1891. The building was designed by Gordon & Helliwell
Gordon & Helliwell
Gordon & Helliwell was a turn-of-the-century architectural firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Principals were Henry Bauld Gordon, RCA, and Grant Helliwell .-Selected works:* Queen's Theological Hall, Kingston, Ontario, 1879...
along with a Rectory next door (which has not been owned by the Church for many years).
The church suffered a major fire in 1976 that gutted the building and destroyed the parish hall next door. The fire was determined to be arson by Toronto police and the perpetrator was convicted and jailed. The church was rebuilt preserving the original exterior appearance, however the interior was radically redesigned to maximize flexibility. As a result, the Church of The Messiah has a liturgical space that can be configured in several different ways. During the week the space is used for worship, community meetings (including several AA groups), dance and yoga classes, and a daycare.
Historically, the Church of The Messiah was a bastion of the low-church Anglicanism in Canada. Every Rector (or Incumbent) prior to the current one was a graduate of Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College is an Anglican Church of Canada seminary federated with the University of Toronto. It is evangelical and Low church in orientation. On the other hand, the University of Toronto's other Anglican college, the University of Trinity College is Anglo-Catholic in outlook. While being an...
. Several of these were noted preachers and two went on to become Bishops. Currently, the church is known for a creative worship style, a diverse congregation, and an active children's program.
The current Incumbent is the Rev'd W. Tay Moss, AHC
Order of the Holy Cross
The Order of the Holy Cross is an international Anglican monastic Order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict.-History:The Order was founded in 1884 by the Rev. James Otis Sargent Huntington, an Episcopal priest, in New York City. The Order moved to Maryland briefly before settling in West Park,...
, SCP
Society of Catholic Priests
The Society of Catholic Priests is a religious society of clergy in the Anglican Communion which draws its membership from Anglicans who consider themselves a part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism.-Founding and early history:...
. Eric Osborne was the Minister of Music until 2011, and Ms. Kerrie Fulton is Director of Children's and Youth Ministry.