A century and a half. That’s how long St Barnabas Anglican Church has stood on the Danforth. A testament to faith resilience and community.
St Barnabas Anglican Church is one of Toronto’s oldest Anglican parishes. It sits in the heart of Riverdale a vibrant neighbourhood. It’s hard to imagine this bustling area was once a rural parish. But that’s exactly what it was.
In 1857 the Anglican Church began discussing a place of worship for Chester Village. That village is now part of Riverdale. Services started in a blacksmith’s shop near Broadview Avenue. The Playter family donated land on Ellerbeck Street. A wooden church was built. It was one of the first eight Anglican churches in Toronto. The church’s name changed several times. It became St John’s Playter Corner then St John’s Chester finally Church of the Epiphany.
In 1872 it was renamed St Barnabas Chester. The church served a five square mile area. Most residents were immigrants from Britain. The parish was poor. In 1869-70 total receipts were just $192. The Women’s Auxiliary formed in 1895. They saved one cent a week for four years to buy a sewing machine. The church lacked a rectory and a Sunday school building.
By the early 1900s things improved. The population increased. St Barnabas Chester expanded. A parish room was added. More land was needed. A new site was purchased on Danforth Avenue. Moving the wooden church was a memorable event. Heavy rain delayed the move. On moving day the church sat in the middle of Danforth Avenue. Parishioners worked hard. They cleaned the church. Services went ahead as planned.
A garden party celebrated the Jubilee Festival in 1908. Seven hundred people attended. A brick church was built. Reverend F E Powell oversaw much of the construction. He was the Rector from 1912 until his death in 1943.
The Prince Edward Viaduct’s completion brought a building boom. A parish hall was added between 1918 and 1919. More additions followed. The interior changed. The chapel moved. The font was relocated.
From 1921 to the end of World War II the parish thrived. Most parishioners were from the British Isles. The church was packed every Sunday. Over 1000 children were in Sunday School. Stained glass windows were added. Memorials honoured those lost in the wars.
The 1950s saw a population shift. People moved to the suburbs. The Danforth changed. It became a multicultural community. Newcomers from the Caribbean joined St Barnabas. They strengthened the congregation.
The 1970s saw community groups using the parish hall. This continues today. St Barnabas connects with the neighbourhood. It shares its facilities. Various congregations have used the church over the years. A daycare has operated there since the 1950s.
Today St Barnabas continues to serve its community. It’s a beacon of faith hope and community on the Danforth. It is a living testament to its rich history. It continues to evolve and adapt. It remains a vital part of the Riverdale neighbourhood.