Corktown in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

St. Paul’s Basilica

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

1. St. Paul’s Basilica Marker

Inscription.
In 1822 St. Paul's was established as the first Roman Catholic Parish between Kingston and Windsor. The first Church built of red brick, was opened on this site in 1824. The land to the East of the Church was used as Toronto's first Catholic Cemetery.

On December 22, 1889, the present Italian Renaissance-Style Church was dedicated. It was designed by the Architect Joseph Connelly, under the inspiration of the then Pastor, Bishop Timothy O'Mahony. The beauty of the Church enhances it's importance as the Mother Church of the Toronto Archdiocese.

On August 3, 1999, Pope John Paul II elevated St. Paul's to Basilica Status.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 43° 39.338′ N, 79° 21.783′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Corktown. It is at the intersection of Power Street and Queen Street East, on the right when traveling north on Power Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 83 Power St, Toronto ON M5A 3A8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: House of Providence (a few steps from this marker); 461 King Street East (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Little Trinity Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 403 King Street E. (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Enoch Turner Schoolhouse / École Enoch Turner (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Dominion Square (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 55-79 Berkeley Street (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Berkeley Street Firehall No. 4 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . St. Paul’s Basilica: a Home Away from Home.

During the nineteenth century St. Paul’s was a bulwark of Catholicism in a very Protestant city.
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

2. St. Paul’s Basilica Marker (on the right of the central entrance)
As the city grew and prospered, from “Muddy York” to an industrialized urban centre, so too did St. Paul’s. By the turn of the century a dozen more parishes were erected in the city to accommodate the growing faithful. St. Paul’s Parish was reinvigorated with the building of the present church - a much larger edifice. Its construction was initiated and overseen by its pastor, auxiliary bishop of Toronto, Most Rev. Thomas O’Mahony, and completed in 1889.

(Submitted on May 6, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Old St. Paul’s Church (built 1824), circa 1880s image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 6, 2025

3. Old St. Paul’s Church (built 1824), circa 1880s

Archdiocese of Toronto

St. Paul’s Basilica, 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

4. St. Paul’s Basilica, 2025

St. Paul’s Basilica interior, 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

5. St. Paul’s Basilica interior, 2025

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 6, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.