Before St Thomas Aquinas Church stood a coach house. It belonged to Wilmot Deloui Matthews a prominent Toronto businessman. He built his home between 1890 and 1891. Matthews died in 1919. His property was purchased by the Newman Club in 1922.
St Thomas Aquinas Church is more than just a building. It’s a cornerstone of the University of Toronto campus. Originally a chapel for the Newman Centre it opened in 1927. It became a quasi-parish church in 1995. This beautiful Gothic Revival style church stands proudly on the corner of Hoskin Avenue and St George Street. It sits next to Massey College.
The church’s history is rich with detail. Mass was initially held in the Oak Room of Matthews’ house. As the congregation grew a larger space was needed. The coach house was demolished. The current church was constructed using Credit Valley and Indiana limestone. Its dark stained British Columbia fir beams support the roof. The Archbishop of Toronto Neil McNeil blessed the completed church. He dedicated it to St Thomas Aquinas on March 27 1927.
Students affectionately called it the Newman Chapel. From 1913 to 1936 the Paulist Fathers from St Peter’s Church served the Newman Centre and chapel. Post-Vatican II renovations adapted the church to new liturgical practices. In 1973 the Ontario Heritage Trust listed it as a historical building. Between 1999 and 2000 new stained glass windows were installed. These windows depict prominent 20th century Christians. Pope John XXIII Kateri Tekakwitha and Mother Teresa are among those represented. In 2014 the roof was replaced for the first time since 1926.
Today St Thomas Aquinas Church continues to serve its community. It holds two Sunday Masses and daily Masses throughout the week. Two music ministries offer traditional and contemporary services. The church’s architecture interior and history offer a powerful testament to faith. It’s a living piece of Toronto’s history and the University of Toronto’s vibrant legacy. Its enduring presence reflects the enduring spirit of the Catholic faith.