Perhaps you’ve heard of a church that faced a crossroads a moment of truth that would define its future. That church is the Church of the Resurrection. It stands here in Toronto’s East End a testament to faith and reinvention.
The Church of the Resurrection began as a church plant. It branched out from St. John’s of Norway Anglican Church. This was at Woodbine and Kingston Road. Back then fields dominated the landscape.
In the summer of 1912, services started in a tent. It stood at Woodbine and Danforth. When the wind proved too strong they built their first church. It was on Woodbine opposite Glebeholme. In 1922 they laid the foundation for the present Church of the Resurrection. They acquired the adjacent property. It is now the playground north of the church. The Great Depression dashed their expansion hopes in the 1930s.
During the Second World War, church members served in many capacities. Their names are inscribed on the Honour Roll. It hangs on the north side of the church.
The 1940s and 50s saw a housing boom. The neighborhood grew. The Church of the Resurrection held three services each Sunday. Seven hundred people attended. Sunday School was packed. Extra chairs were set out to accommodate the overflow. In the 1960s, they bought the Parish Hall. It came from Rogers Memorial Presbyterian Church. They moved it west of the church. It housed the children’s program.
The 1970s, 80s, and 90s brought decline. Mainline church attendance dropped across North America. The Church of the Resurrection felt the impact. By 1999, Sunday attendance dipped below 57. The Diocese of Toronto challenged them. Was their ministry viable?
But those who remained persevered. They hoped and prayed for a revival. A fresh infusion of life from God. Rev. Chris King of Little Trinity Church had a vision. He saw small churches revived by new people from larger churches. Rev. Duke Vipperman embraced this vision. He agreed to be a candidate for The Church of the Resurrection.
On January 23, 2000, Duke arrived. Sixty people from Little Trinity joined him. A dozen more came from other churches. This marked the Church of the Resurrection’s second birth. It was affectionately nicknamed “The Rez.”
Today, the Church of the Resurrection continues to grow. It is deeply committed to its neighborhood. The Rez sees itself as a parish in the neighborhood for the neighborhood with the neighborhood and of the neighborhood. Its worship is informal. It is rooted in Anglican traditions. The church values preaching biblical teaching liturgical worship and prayer.
The Church of the Resurrection embraces its mission. It wants to know Christ and to make Him known. Each Sunday about 212 people gather here. They praise and worship together. The Church of the Resurrection aims to be a guilt-free church. People participate out of love for God not pressure.
Before we move on, remember this spot. It is a place of resilience a place of rebirth. It shows us that even in decline new life can emerge. The Church of the Resurrection stands as a symbol of hope. It is a testament to the power of faith and community.