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375:) installed in 1930 following the fire which destroyed the previous organ. This instrument plays an important part in leading the church choir and ceremony every week. When it was first installed, there was a weekly recital which was widely known in the neighbourhood, and which received a great deal of recognition in the local papers. These two instruments, the organ and carillon, are an important part of the church’s image and are enjoyed wherever they are heard and especially by the patients of the St. Michael's Hospital.
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the "cathedral of
Methodism...a monument to ... energy, magnetism and culture....No church in Toronto has such great advantages of position....The handsome grounds of this church form one of the finest spaces in this city....The entire building is of white brick, with abundant cut stone dressing. It
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In 1925, the
Methodist Church of Canada merged with the Presbyterians and Congregationalists to form the United Church of Canada. Metropolitan then acquired its current name. The first General Council of the United Church was held there in 1925. The church was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1928, but
241:, who had been the pastor of the earlier Methodist church on Adelaide Street, laid the cornerstone for Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church in Toronto. He was later a member and a trustee of the Metropolitan congregation for many years and his funeral was held there at the church as well.
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When the church was first built in 1872, it was designed to accommodate a future carillon. The tower was designed to support the addition of bells and their immense weight (over forty four thousand pounds), by having seven-foot thick walls at the base which taper as they go up. At the top of the
348:. A traditional carillon is a set of 23 or more bells which are played from a mechanical keyboard. The collection of bells at the Metropolitan United Church has been growing since April 2, 1922, when Chester D. Massey dedicated 23 bells in memory of his wife. These original 23 bells, cast by
356:, England, are inscribed with the message "May the spirit of the Lord reach the heart of every one where the sound of these bells is heard." In 1960, Charles W. Drury and his wife donated twelve smaller bells, and by 1971, the collection was brought to a total of 54 bells.
325:, and the trio of similarly designed churches are a striking Christian witness adjacent to Canada's financial hub. The church's website describes the building in customary evangelical Protestant terms, regarding the nave rather than the chancel area as its "sanctuary".
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North). In 1833, a larger structure was completed on
Adelaide Street. It moved to its present location in 1872 when the building was dedicated as the Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church.
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Leeper, Muriel (1998). "Ringing the bells – Carillon demonstration by musician Gerald
Martindale at the Soldiers' Tower Carillon at the University of Toronto in Canada".
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Today, the church is known for its progressiveness. It has long played an important role in
Toronto's Gay and Lesbian community that is centered just to the north at
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is a modernized form of the French thirteenth century Gothic, with nave, transepts and choir.
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tower is a bell chamber open to the outside through which the carillon music can be heard.
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Herbert Austin
Fricker served as the church's organist and choir director from 1917 to 1943
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in Canada in the newly refurbished building. The church is also known for its 54-bell
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it was rebuilt in 1929 (keeping the same design) with the help of the
Methodist
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Minister of Faith
Formation: The Rev. Jason Francis Meyers, 2019-present
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Children and Youth
Animator: The Rev. Alana Martin, 2021-present
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Wayne C. Vance Organ
Scholar: Joshua Duncan Lee, 2021-present
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Minister of Music: Dr. Jonathan Oldengarm, 2022-present
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that is regularly heard throughout the neighbourhood.
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East, between Bond and Church streets, in Toronto's
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Hallowed Walls: Church Architecture of Upper Canada
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Hallowed Walls: Church Architecture of Upper Canada
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List of United Church of Canada churches in Toronto
522:List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto
368:The church also had Canada’s largest pipe organ (
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717:Metropolitan United Church's sermon website
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784:Gothic Revival church buildings in Canada
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656:(Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1975), p.175-76.
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643:(Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1975), p.90.
468:Dr. Herbert Austin Fricker 1917–1943
652:Marion MacRae and Anthony Adamson,
639:Marion MacRae and Anthony Adamson,
495:Dr. Jonathan Oldengarm 2022-present
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618:Metropolitan United Church history
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442:Organists and choir directors
323:Cathedral Church of St. James
501:Wayne C. Vance Organ Scholar
415:J. Leland Richardson 1928–30
337:The church's tower houses a
237:On 24 August 1870, Reverend
16:Not to be confused with the
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517:List of carillons in Canada
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477:Mr. John Sidgwick 1952–1960
462:Mr. H.A. Wheeldon 1907–1913
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433:Gerald Martindale 1997–2016
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44:Front of the church in 2019
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284:View of the church's altar
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169:Organist/Director of music
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18:Metropolitan United Church
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740:43.653974°N 79.376666°W
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204:Queen Street
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115:Architect(s)
109:Architecture
76:Denomination
59:Queen Street
743: /
152:Minister(s)
758:Categories
731:79°22′36″W
728:43°39′14″N
604:2021-06-24
580:2021-06-24
557:References
259:pipe organ
184:Neo-Gothic
132:Neo-Gothic
774:Carillons
691:1185-3433
629:Opus 1367
547:sanctuary
489:1967–1986
373:Opus 1367
228:Methodist
138:Completed
511:See also
346:carillon
339:carillon
329:Carillon
321:and the
263:carillon
70:, Canada
54:Location
354:Croydon
300:Gallery
214:History
196:Ontario
99:Website
68:Ontario
64:Toronto
689:
188:church
186:style
146:Clergy
685:(1).
533:Notes
364:Organ
249:, of
163:Laity
127:Style
687:ISSN
61:East
352:in
190:in
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