Toronto Necropolis
Here, at 200 Winchester Street, is the Toronto Necropolis cemetery. Two plaques give us information. The first, to the left of the chapel entrance, almost hidden by the greenery, tells us about the chapel:
The chapel at the Toronto Necropolis, together with adjoining entry pavilion and superintendent's office and residence, constitute one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. The unique composition of buildings was designed by architect Henry Langley in 1872. The chapel, whose arch is the most prominent decorative feature, has a distinctly Gothic motif, including the large arched stained glass window lighting the nave and the arched rose window of stained glass lighting the sanctuary and chancel. An unique aspect of the chapel's architecture is the placement of the bell tower at the rear, over the sacristy, a sensible design for funeral processions entering through the porch and passing through the large nave to the chancel and finally through the sacristy to the cemetery grounds. Henry Langley, a Toronto architect, was noted for his use of Gothic Revival style in churches. He died in 1906 at the age of seventy, and was buried in the Toronto Necropolis (Section O, Lot 255).
Location Co-ordinates: 43.667600 -79.361436
Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006
The second plaque, on a rock to the right of the driveway entrance, tells us about the cemetery:
This cemetery, comprising 7 ha, was opened to replace the Potter's Field which was located on the north-west corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets. Potter's Field, the first non-sectarian burying ground in the then town of 'Muddy York', consisted of 2.5 ha and was purchased in 1825 for the sum of 'seventy-five pounds currency' ($300.00). The first interment in the Necropolis took place on May 22, 1850. Within these ground are buried many of those originally interred in Potter's Field including citizens in every walk of life and some who occupied positions of eminence in the city. The present chapel, lodge, and porte-cochère were built in 1872 at a cost of $8,632.00. The crematorium, the first in Ontario, was opened in 1933. By December 31, 1969, 42,360 interments had been made in this Toronto Necropolis. In the grounds are numerous interesting memorials and many unusual species of trees and shrubs.
Photo by Alan L Brown - September 2006
Related page:
Potter's Field of Muddy York
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