Grange Park in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Church of Christ (1891)

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025

1. Church of Christ (1891) Marker

Inscription.
This building was designed by the architecture firm of Knox and Elliot as a Romanesque Revival-style church for a congregation of the Disciples of Christ. Its subsequent uses tell the story of a changing neighbourhood. The church became the Ostrovtzer Synagogue in 1925, and its Jewish congregation replaced the bell tower with the existing domed tower. In 1966, the synagogue became the Chinese Catholic Centre. Eventually acquired by the City of Toronto, the building became the Cecil Street Community Centre in 1978.

Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1976

Erected 2010 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage, and the Synagogues series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 43° 39.38′ N, 79° 23.92′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Grange Park. It is at the intersection of Cecil Street and Spadina Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Cecil Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 58 Cecil Street, Toronto ON M5T 1N6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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: Labor Lyceum (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); Wong Association of Ontario

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(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Standard Theatre (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Walter Huston (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Kensington Market / Le Marché Kensington (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Frederic W. Cumberland 1820-1881 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Pendarves - Cumberland House / Pendarves - Maison Cumberland (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); St. Stephen’s-in-the-Fields Anglican Church/Église Anglicane de St. Stephen’s-in-the-fields (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . Toronto Ostrovtzer Shul (Jews of Ostrowiec). Overview:

The former Ostrovtzer Shul (Synagogue) is located at 58 Cecil Street and Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto. It was known as the Beth Haknesseth Hagadol Anshei Ostrovtze. The congregation was founded in 1901, but officially in 1910. The building was a former church which was bought by Ostrowiec immigrants and transformed into a synagogue in 1925. It was later sold in 1966, after the Jewish population shifted to the northern part of Toronto.

(Submitted on August 12, 2025.)

Church of Christ (1891) Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025

2. Church of Christ (1891) Marker - wide view

The marker is visible to the right of the door.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 11, 2025

3. Church of Christ (1891) Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.