The rhythmic clang of the church bell still echoes in my ears. A sound that has called worshippers to St John’s York Mills for nearly two centuries.
St John’s York Mills isn’t just a church. It’s a living testament to Toronto’s history. Founded in 1816 it stands as the second oldest Anglican church in the city. Imagine services starting in Seneca Ketchum’s home. Then moving to a humble schoolhouse.
The cornerstone of the original structure was laid in 1816 by Lieutenant Governor Francis Gore and the Reverend Dr John Strachan. A significant event that marked the beginning of a lasting legacy. The building was completed in 1817 but wasn’t consecrated until 1829. A delay of twelve years. This shows just how significant church consecrations were in those days.
But the wooden frame church wasn’t meant to last. By 1842 it was deteriorating. Reverend Alexander Sanson stepped in and revived the building fund. This led to the construction of the present Gothic Revival building. John George Howard a leading architect of the time designed it. Henry G Papst built it of white burnt brick for the cost of 632 pounds. Bishop Strachan again laid the cornerstone in 1843. He then opened the finished church in 1844.
The story of St John’s York Mills doesn’t end there. The church’s barrel organ arrived from England in 1846. It was a unique instrument operated by a crank instead of an organist. It remained the church’s main instrument until a cottage organ appeared in the 1860s. A pipe organ eventually replaced it in 1928. John Page Squire was the church sexton for 69 years. He operated the barrel organ rang the bells and maintained the graveyard. He was a true pillar of this community.
The church cemetery holds the remains of many early settlers and participants in the Upper Canada Rebellion. It also includes the remains of Archbishop Derwyn Owen Primate of All Canada. Lionel Conacher and Walter Seymour Allward are also buried there.
St John’s York Mills. More than just bricks and mortar. It’s a timeline. A testament to faith. A community anchor. A place where history whispers through the stained glass and the very stones beneath our feet. A place that continues to serve the community as it has for generations.