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rfmcdonaldSt. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church, located at 104 Bellevue Avenue on College Street directly between Toronto's Little Italy and Kensington Market neighbourhoods, is threatened.
Prominently displayed signs on the church property facing both Bellevue and College offer the property for rent, for marriages and parties and similar events. The tension with the Church hierarchy is, so far as I know, ongoing.
The boyfriend and I stopped off there this afternoon, coming back from a street festival in Little Italy. One of the priests caught us as we were coming in, towards the end of the afternoon Spanish-language service but telling us that we could go in, just to be quiet. Smoke and incense in the air about the altar, a plain area for parishoners facing a beautiful stone hall, the church felt holy to me.
St. Stephen's-in-the-Fields Anglican Church, a superb example of mid nineteenth century Gothic architecture, is threatened. Local parish is loosing money and the Anglican diocese, which owns the building is not interested in entering into a heritage easement agreement with the city. St. Stephen’s was built in 1858. Its stained glass windows are among the finest in the city. However, it is not only a wonderful building; it is a force for good, looking after its parishioners and many others in the community. Like many St. Stephen's is one of the many downtown churches that have embraced the mission of caring for the hungry, the naked and the poor. It has services in English, Spanish and French for Caribbean, Latino and African congregations.
A while back, The Anglican diocese offered to loan the parish funds to cover the wages of a priest. Over the years a debt of $400,000 built up. Recently the diocese asked for repayment and the congregation worked out a 15-year repayment schedule. For a time the diocese went along with this plan, but recently it issued an order to vacate. The diocese wants the building back. A group, The Friends of St. Stephen's, has formed to endeavour to preserve this church and its congregation. They deserve support.
Prominently displayed signs on the church property facing both Bellevue and College offer the property for rent, for marriages and parties and similar events. The tension with the Church hierarchy is, so far as I know, ongoing.
The boyfriend and I stopped off there this afternoon, coming back from a street festival in Little Italy. One of the priests caught us as we were coming in, towards the end of the afternoon Spanish-language service but telling us that we could go in, just to be quiet. Smoke and incense in the air about the altar, a plain area for parishoners facing a beautiful stone hall, the church felt holy to me.
