inSPIREd Sunday

July 2018 - Toronto ON

All the times we drove passed this church, finally I went in! I must say, I think it is one of our nicest churches.


St. Paul's Bloor Street (Anglican Church) is located on Bloor Street, east of Yonge Street. It is the largest church in the Diocese of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada.
The first St. Paul's church opened on June 12, 1842.  It was replaced by what is called the “Old Church” in 1860. The current sanctuary (the “New Church”) was built in 1913 when Canon Cody was the Rector (Senior Minister). Cody Hall, built in memory of Canon Cody’s son, opened in 1928 containing a large theatre-style room, classrooms, a gym and a rifle range.

St. Paul's Bloor Street is the regimental church of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (QOR) and a pew is designated for The Duchess of Cornwall, appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment in 2010.

The Cross of Sacrifice, a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the unit, stands outside the church.

Both the New Church and Cody Hall were designed by E.J. Lennox who attended as a member of St. Paul’s at the time. In 2006, a large renovation (the Nehemiah Project) was completed, amalgamating all three buildings into one, accessible complex of 110,000 sq. ft.

 The new and old blend together very well.

The building is protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since January 12, 1989. The "Old St. Paul's Anglican Church" was built in 1860, designed by Edward and George Radford. The tower was completed in 1894 with additions in 1904 designed by E.J. Lennox. The "New St. Paul's Anglican Church" opened in 1913. There is also a heritage easement agreement on the property, registered on November 22, 1988.

There are three chapels in the church complex (St. Paul’s, St. George’s, and Good Shepherd). During the week, those seeking solitude and prayer are welcome in St. Paul’s Chapel. The Chapel hosts new and regular visitors alike, and is especially popular with the working crowd at lunch.

In the LADIES' WASHROOM!!!

Bathroom

Bathroom

I've stepped back into the church.

Another Homeless Jesus!

Click here to see three other Homeless Jesus that we have seen. And another Toronto one we recently saw.

That figure, cast in dark bronze, is the newest sculpture by Catholic artist Tim Schmalz.

Best known for his Homeless Jesus statue, which drew the attention of Pope Francis, Schmalz called his new sculpture When I Was a Stranger. It is the latest addition to his When I Was series, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew.

The sculpture shows Christ encircled by six bronze stumps, representing seats that invite passers-by to join the lonely stranger. Schmalz said the sculpture, outside of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, took more than four years to evolve from an idea into reality.

“This was one that I struggled with,” he said.