Old Town in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Cathedral Church of St. James
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022
1. Cathedral Church of St. James Marker
In 1796 the first Anglican priest arrived from England to minister to the citizens of York. The following year the province set aside this piece of land for the building of a church. The present cathedral, the fourth church erected on this site, opened in 1853, replacing the previous structure destroyed in the Great Fire of 1849. The first Bishop of Toronto, the Right Reverend John Strachan, along with a number of his parishioners, played an important role in the early development of the city and province. Over the years, the cathedral, the Mother Church for Anglicans in the diocese of Toronto, has been a place of worship, prayer and outreach in the heart of a busy community.
Erected 1997 by Heritage Toronto.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.
Location. 43° 39.026′ N, 79° 22.456′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Old Town. Marker is on Church Street just north of King Street East, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located beside the walkway on the west side of the subject church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106 King Street East, Toronto ON M5C 2E9, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. James' Cathedral (within shouting distance of this
this page online
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Cathedral Church of St. James
Also see . . .
1. Cathedral Church of St. James.
In 1849, the previous cathedral was destroyed in the first Great Fire of Toronto. An international architectural competition was held to replace it, drawing eleven entries from Canada and the United States. The Gothic Revival design by Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout won. Construction began on July 1, 1850, and the Ohio stone and brick cathedral was opened to the public in 1853. Upon his death in 1867, John Strachan, Toronto's(Submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)first Anglican bishop, was buried in a vault beneath the high altar. It was not until 1873–1874 that the tower and spire, the transepts, and the pinnacles and finials were completed by architect Henry Langley. The spire was the tallest structure in Canada upon completion and would remain so for another 25 years until the construction of Toronto's Old City Hall.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 20222. Cathedral Church of St. James Marker(looking southeast from Church Street • marker is beside the walkway near the west [left] entrance)
2. Drone Tour of St. James Cathedral Toronto. (Submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 28, 2022
3. The Cathedral Church of St. James (northwest elevation)
Photographed By Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Ltd., circa 1910
4. St. James Cathedral
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 3, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on March 4, 2023.
