Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

Church of All Nations

Photo below by Alan L Brown - May, 2008

The plaque, apparently located here at 422 Queen Street West, appears to be missing. According to Heritage Toronto, it's a 1986 Toronto Historical Board plaque and the text of the plaque says:

This site was originally part of lands owned in the late 1830s by John Henry Dunn, Receiver-General of Upper Canada. It was purchased in the 1840s by the Methodists to build a small chapel, replaced in 1856 by a larger Gothic-style brick church. By 1900 the church had been enlarged to house the biggest Methodist congregation in Toronto. As the area changed to industrial in the 1920s, the church became vacant. In 1927-28, the United Church of Canada added to the building and established the Church of All Nations, where services were held in many languages. An international fair was held here annually between 1929 and 1957, an early expression of Toronto's multicultural heritage. The Hungarian United Church was the last occupant until 1984 when the building was sold and demolished for commercial development.

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.648622 -79.398022

More religious buildings

Here are the comments for this page.

Posted January 10, 2010
For a photo, the best place to search would be the United Church of Canada Archives. I agree with the second author because I remember the church as well. At at least its facade, because it was a rather plain brick building built right next to the sidewalk. Incidentally, if you are ever in the Queen and Spadina neighbourhood there is another church hidden behind a modern facade on Spadina south of Queen. If you wander down the alley, you can still make out its roofline.

Posted May 4, 2009
I would like to see a photo of this church c. 1939 when my parents were married there. Where could I find one?

Posted August 8, 2008
This is the wrong location for this church. The correct location is further east, on the south side of Queen east of Spadina. I grew up in the neighbourhood and can tell you that the building in that photo was built before 1984.

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).