ROMwalk Script
Royal Ontario Museum
Department of Museum Volunteers
ROMWALK
SACRED STONES AND STEEPLES
Original walk 1986, Newly Revised 2008
List of Stops
1.St. James’ Cathedral1853
2.Metropolitan United Church1870 & 1928
-Entrance to St. Michael’s Hospital
3.St. Michael’s Cathedral1845
-St. Michael’s Choir School
4.Mackenzie House
5. The Downtown Mosque
6.First Lutheran Church1898
7.St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church
formerly Holy Blossom Temple 1897
8.Ryerson University (Normal School 1851)
Royal Ontario Museum
Department of Museum Volunteers
ROMWALK
Revised 2008
SACRED STONES & STEEPLES
MEETING PLACE: St. James Cathedral, King St. East
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Tourer: best vantage point -- across from the Cathedral at the gate of the Toronto Sculpture Garden – or – stand at the south-west corner of the cathedral grounds.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Welcome to ROMwalk – an outreach program of the Department of Museum Volunteers which began in 1980. Since then, we have developed many walking tours in downtown Toronto, focusing on Toronto's built heritage and its people. Our brochures give you a list of the walks & dates for this season.
INTRODUCTION TO SACRED STONES & STEEPLES WALK
Our title, Sacred Stones & Steeples, indicates that this walk focuses on the several places of worship in this area, all from different denominations & all dating from the 19th century when churches were the most prestigious buildings in the city.
We start here at the corner of King & Church Streets with the Anglican Cathedral Church of St. James, then walk up to Queen St. to the Metropolitan United Church (originally Methodist) and continue up Bond St. to look at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, the First Lutheran Church & St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, whose building was originally the home of the Jewish Holy Blossom Temple. A new addition to the walk is the Downtown Mosque, also on Bond St., reminding us that Toronto today has become a multi-faith community.
We finish at Ryerson University on Gould St. – not a church but whose founder & namesake, Egerton Ryerson, is linked closely with the Methodist faith. Ryerson & Bishop John Strachan of the Anglican diocese were two of the most prominent figures of 19th C Toronto who opposed each other on political & religious grounds but both were influential in the field of education & the support of the public good.
The tour will focus on the exterior structure of the places of worship. However, there may be an opportunity to view the interior of some of the buildings.
WAR OF 1812 ADDITION
As part of the introduction to the walk mention the emphasis on the War of 1812. Use the “Summary of War of 1812” below prepared by Mary as a background. ** indicate most important elements.
Summary of War of 1812
**The War of 1812 began on July 18, 1812 when the United States, under President Madison, declared war on Britain and its colony, Canada. It was to last until the Treaty of Ghent brought the war to an end on Dec. 24, 1814 (but the Battle of New Orleans did technically take place after the war).
**The Americans had several reasons for wanting a war with Britain. First, due to the Napoleonic Wars taking place between Britain and France, American shipping was being affected. The French wanted to stop any neutral country from trading with Britain so they basically forbid the entry into any European port under their control of a ship that had made a stop at any British port. The British, with a very strong navy, imposed the Orders in Council which required ships to put into a British port before doing any trade with Europe. Thus American ships were being prevented from freely carrying out trade with Europe. As well, the British policy of impressment meant they were going on board American ships and removing any “British” sailors they found. Of course, this was greatly annoying to the Americans. Another reason was the fact that American settlers moving west were meeting opposition from First Nations groups. Americans believed that the First Nations groups were being sold/traded arms by the British. Lastly, there was a young group of American politicians, the “War Hawks”, who pushed for war.
The two and a half years of battle took place mostly in Upper Canada. The odds should have been in favour of an American victory. A nation of 7.5 million was going to battle a nation of 75,000. Also, many of the settlers in Upper Canada were originally from the United States and so their loyalty when the war began could have been an issue. There were many battles fought on land and on the Great Lakes but there was no decisive victory on either part. As well, Britain could spare few soldiers, warships and supplies to support the war in its Canada because of the continued war with France.
A few heroes emerged on both sides such as Sir Isaac Brock and Laura Secord for Canada and Dolly Madison for the Americans. Brock led the British/Canadian forces in the first few months of the war but was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights. Secord is said to have overheard American officers plan an attack and travelled far to war FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams. Dolly Madison is credited with saving things from the White House before it was burned by invading British forces in the attack on Washington in 1814.
**The war came to Toronto on April 27th, 1813. The little town of about 650 inhabitants was weakly defended. (see other attachment) The Americans invaded the town, burning, looting and pillaging before they left after about 5 days. They came back a second time in August, but they only stayed for a few days.
As the Napoleonic Wars ended, the Americans knew that Britain could now turn its attention to supporting its colony, Canada. Also, the American people were losing support for the war that had not turned out to be “a mere matter of marching”. The Treaty of Ghent, thus, brought the war to an end. Neither said gained much from it.
The walk will last about an hour and a half.
Before leaving this area, notice some of the oldest buildings in Toronto are still standing on the south side of the King Street right in this block. They date from the 1840s & give us an idea of what the city looked like when St. James was built.
1.THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JAMES (4th church on site)
King St. East at Church St.
Architect: Frederic Cumberland
Date: 1853 (completed 1874 by Henry Langley)
Architecture/Exterior
- Style – Gothic Revival. A very fine example of this style, which by the mid-century was the preferred ecclesiastical architectural style in England. After an international competition, Frederic Cumberland, a recent English immigrant, was chosen for his rich sense of this ecclesiastical Gothic. Salisbury Cathedral in England was said to be an inspiration.
- Characterized by Gothic lancet windows, pointed arches, buttresses, pinnacles & finials & of course the spire, which was not completed until 1874. Building gives a feeling of lightness & leads eye upwards towards heaven.
- The exterior architecture reflects the interior of the building with its 5-sided chancel.
- Built of Toronto yellow brick with Ohio sandstone trim. Originally in England, churches had to be of stone but in North America by this time, brick was acceptable.
- It was oriented North/South (since the 1818 church) unlike the more usual East/West for churches where the altar was usually in the east.
- With the addition of the spire, the cathedral was 324 ft. (almost 100 m.) high from the ground to the tip of the weathervane, for many years the tallest building in the city & a landmark for ships coming in to the harbour. It is still the highest cathedral in Canada, second only to St. Patrick’s in North America & third after Salisbury & Norwich Cathedrals in England.
- The clock was added in 1875 - a gift from the people of Toronto & still maintained by the city. It is connected to a set of ten bells which chime on the quarter hour (like Big Ben at Westminster in London, England).
- A peal of twelve change-ringing bells was added in 1997 to mark the bicentenary. They are rung every Sunday morning between 10 & 11 a.m. as well as on special occasions. The bells rung before the 9 & after the 11 a.m. services on Sundays are the carillon.
- The architectural firm of Cumberland & Storm was one of the foremost architectural firms in Toronto in the later 19h century. Cumberland also designed the Seventh Toronto Post Office & the York County Court House, both within a block of the Cathedral; as well as University College in the University of Toronto; the central block of Osgoode Hall and the Normal School whose façade is now at the centre of the Ryerson campus.
[Walker: Move group at this point – perhaps to the interior of the West Porch where there are pictures of the historical church buildings. It may not always possible to gain entry to the church buildings on this walk, especially on Wednesday evenings.]
Link. Unlike most of our ROMwalks where we do not go into the historic buildings, in this case we will take the time to show you some of the interior of St. James.
Historical Background (use pictures on wall)
WAR OF 1812 ADDITION
Role of the Church of England
-Constitutional Act of 1791 Simcoe established the Church of England as the fixed form of worship
-There would be mutual ties between the State and Church
-There would be financial endowments from the State to the Church and the church would support the State
-Church would ensure loyalty to the Crown esp. with new immigrants
-Church would have dominance in Education to help ensure loyalty
-1/7 of Crown land was set aside for the support of the C of E clergy
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1793. The town of York established by the new Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe, as the capital of the new province of Upper Canada. This area was the heart of the new town with the market & government buildings to the south east of here.
WAR OF 1812 ADDITION ** Indicates most important elements
John Graves Simcoe 1752-1806
-British army officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783
-Commander of several Loyalist units including the Queen’s Rangers who defended the Crown fighting with British forces against American Revolutionaries **
-After the war he returned to his estate in Devon England and became an MP
-In 1791 he was appointed the first Governor of the new colony of Upper Canada (Ontario)**
-He was convinced that war would soon break out between G. B. and the US. He was correct that Upper Canada would be invaded…except it took place 20 years later than he expected **
-To prepare for the invasion he constructed a series of forts..one in his new capital York (now Toronto)
-Simcoe founded some settlements of Loyalists, Americans who left the new United States after the Revolutionary War and moved to Upper Canada to remain under the Crown. Simcoe believed that many more Americans wanted to reject Republicanism and embrace British Parliamentary Government **
-He encouraged immigration to Upper Canada by Americans by offering free land grants and many took up the offer
-These “late” Loyalists may have wanted life under the Crown but all wanted the free land.
-Simcoe believes, as did many Tories, that the major cause of the American Revolution was too great a tlolearance of diversity of religion and politics.
-To counter this in Upper Canada he promoted a “Little England” policy of Unity. One Empire…British. One King…George III. One Church…the Church of England…in Upper Canada governed by a Royal Governor aided by a strong appointed Executive Council of wealthy and educated men and a loyal if limited elected Assembly. **
This policy continued after Simcoe left Upper Canada and as a result a society of Empire Loyalties and late Loyalist becoming distinct from their American cousins but still with enough family connections so that the War of 1812 can be viewed as a Civil War.
1797. The colonial government set aside this tract of land (over 6 acres), bounded by Church, Jarvis, King & Adelaide Sts. for the Church of England, although, for a few years, services were still held in Government buildings.
1803First church. Soldiers of the garrison at Fort York started to put up a wooden frame for the first church on this site, built on an east/west axis & completed in 1807. Known as “The Church at York”.
1812. John Strachan appointed “officiating minister” at York, school master & chaplain to the garrison.
1812-14. War with U.S. Town of York invaded. Church used as a military hospital. Wounded were brought from all over. Called “The General Hospital” – a forerunner of Toronto General
1818. Church greatly enlarged, entrance moved to King St., painted blue with white trim (matching school house); tin spire with bell added. Whole building shook when bell pealed. Used as fire bell for the town.
1828. Dedicated to St. James the Apostle.
1832 – 39. Second church. Built of stone. Burned down.
1839.The Rev. John Strachan consecrated first Bishop of Toronto. New church would therefore be Cathedral – seat of diocese.
1839 – 49. Third church. Neo-classical revival style with tower & wooden spire. Much larger, able to seat 2000.
1849. Great Fire destroyed new cathedral (spire ignited & church burnt to ground) as well as much of town, including market & first city hall to the east. Buildings on south side of King St. survived.
1849Controversy over rebuilding. Some wanted church to front on Adelaide & sell or lease King St. frontage. Civic protest overruled this. New building to be in middle of grounds so no chance to sell or divide property at later date. International architectural competition held. Won by Frederic Cumberland.
WAR OF 1812 ADDITION ** indicates most important elements
Events of the Invasion of York might be mentioned inside the cathedral—unless there is an organ rehearsal—maybe after pointing out the military colours. Use Mary’s “The Battle of York” below as background. Get folks to sit in the pews.
Additionally, the church was used as a hospital and it was looted
Battle of York -April 27, 1813 - SUMMARY
Early on the evening of April 26, 1813, an American fleet of 14 ships was seen approaching York. The American ships, carrying about 1,750 troops & 900 sailors, attacked the town the next morning. After five days, they reboarded their ships & left.**
The town was lightly defended – only about 300 regulars, under Sheaffe were there along with 350 militia & about 50-60 First Nations warriors. They had few cannon which were old & fixed in place. The fort was incomplete with weak fortifications.
Below is the sequence of events: (for a list of locations associated with the invasion. (see attachment)
- On the morning of April 27, the American fleet heads to a landing at Old Fort Toronto(CNE grounds) but is blown by a strong wind westward to what is now Sunnyside Beach. Here they disembark, meet small resistance, and head east toward the garrison at Fort York & the town itself.
- The American soldiers march towards the Western Battery. As they march their fifes & drums play “Yankee Doodle”. At the Western Battery Sheaffe plans to make a stand but a travelling magazine explodes injuring British regulars & Sheaffe orders the rest to fall back to the garrison area at Fort York. **
- At the fort, Sheaffe realizes that he cannot win this battle, so he calls for a retreat of his regulars to Kingston. He instructs the militia to make surrender terms with the Americans. He also orders that the Grand Magazine (storing military supplies), be blown up to prevent it from getting into American hands. The resulting explosion kills & wounds many Americans, including Brigadier-General Pike, the leader of the invasion force. The Americans are angry. **
- The militia leaders, along with Rev. John Strachan, attempt to negotiate a capitulation but it is not ratified until later.
- American soldiers now march on the defenceless town of York, population approximately 650 inhabitants. Many of the men (who had been called to the militia) were gone by then and many of the homes and businesses are deserted. The Americans, despite the fact that their own leader, Pike, had told them to refrain from destroying & looting private property, do exactly that. Many of the private homes & businesses are looted and even the public buildings are burned after they had been pillaged. The Americans also release prisoners from jails some of whom join into the bedlam. There were also some inhabitants of York who took advantage of the situation and joined in as well. Included in the burned building are the two house Parliament buildings. This goes on until May 2. **
- On May 1st and 2nd, the American soldiers are ordered back onto their ships preparatory to leaving. However, the weather holds them up and they don’t leave the harbour until May 8th.
- On July 31st, the Americans return and continue the looting as well as burn whatever military buildings they had left standing.
[Walker: Indicate bust of John Strachan in West Porch. Move group up west side of nave to view stained glass window commemorating Strachan. No need to tell visitors all of the following]