Fairlawn Avenue United Church

Has anyone ever told you about the church built on a bar? Right here at Fairlawn Avenue United Church, the spirit of community and faith has flowed since 1920. But the story starts a bit earlier, in 1915, with a group of Methodist families meeting in homes near Yonge and Lawrence. They longed for a dedicated space, and their prayers were answered, in a rather unusual way. They acquired the former Bedford Park Hotel on Yonge Street, just south of here. The hotel’s bar was repurposed, its wood transformed into a pulpit, a symbol of transformation. This became Bedford Park Methodist Church. By 1920, the congregation outgrew the repurposed hotel and purchased this very land at 28 Fairlawn Avenue. A small, white frame church was built where the staff parking lot is now. They renamed themselves Fairlawn Methodist Church. The congregation continued to boom. Just four years later, in 1924, the current brick sanctuary of Fairlawn Avenue United Church was erected. In 1925, the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist churches in Canada merged to form the United Church of Canada. Fairlawn Methodist Church became Fairlawn United Church, embracing the spirit of unity. Growth continued, with wings added to the church in 1934. Further expansions took place in 1952, designed by architects Parrot, Tambling & Witmer, and again in 1996 to house the Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre. Fairlawn Avenue United Church stands as a testament to the evolving history of faith and community in this area. From a bar-turned-pulpit to a thriving community hub, Fairlawn Avenue United Church continues to serve its community, a testament to the enduring spirit of its founders.