In August of 2012, I placed a post on this blog about St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, located at Bathurst and Adelaide Streets. At the time, it was undergoing extensive alterations. This magnificent structure crowns Adelaide Street West, when gazing westward toward Bathurst. It is a pity that Adelaide is a one-way street going eastbound, as drivers are never able to view the church as its builders intended. It is a historic building, built between the years 1883 to 1889. I consider its tower to be the most beautiful and impressive in the city.
The restoration of the church is nearing completion. I have photographed it during the various stages of the work. The scaffolding has now been entirely removed, except on the south facade. The church appears as beautiful today as when it first opened its doors on 17 February 1889. If you have never visited this amazing structure, take the time enter the interior and view the splendid wooden ceiling, which soars 65 feet above the nave. St. Mary’s is an amazing space, where one is able to sit quietly, examine the architecture, or pray.
To view the previous post about St. Mary’s, detailing its history, with historic and modern photographs, follow the link:
The church in the summer of 2012, with scaffolding on the tower and hoarding around the base, obscuring the entrance.
Church with scaffolding partially removed from the tower, but the east facade remaining covered.
The church in March of 2013, with all scaffolding removed except from the south side of the structure.
To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.com/
To view other posts about Toronto’s past and its historic buildings:
The historically amazing intersection of King and Simcoe Streets.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2013/03/16/torontos-amazing-intersectionking-and-simcoe-streets/
The historic 1885 bank building at Yonge and Front Streets
The Art Deco bus terminal at Bay and Dundas Streets.
Photos of the surroundings of the CN Tower and and the St. Lawrence Market in 1977
The old Dominion Bank Building at King and Yonge Street
The Canada Life Building on University and Queen Street West.
Campbell House at the corner of Queen Street West and University Avenue
A study of Osgoode Hall
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/04/12/enjoying-torontos-architectural-gems-osgoode-hall/
Toronto’s first City Hall, now a part of the St. Lawrence Market
Toronto’s Draper Street, a time-tunnel into the 19th century
The Black Bull Tavern at Queen and Soho Streets, established in 1822
History of the 1867 fence around Osgoode Hall on Queen Street West at York Street
Gathering around the radio as a child in the 1940s
The opening of the University Theatre on Bloor Street, west of Bay St.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/02/24/the-opening-of-torontos-university-theatre-on-bloor-street/
122 persons perish in the Noronic Disaster on Toronto’s waterfront in 1949
Historic Victoria Memorial Square where Toronto’s first cemetery was located, now hidden amid the Entertainment District
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/01/09/victoria-square-in-torontos-entertainment-district-is-a-gem/
Visiting one of Toronto’s best preserved 19th-century streets-Willcocks Avenue
The 1930s Water Maintenance Building on Brant Street, north of St. Andrew’s Park
Toronto’s architectural gems-photos of the Old City from a book published by the city in 1912
Toronto’s architectural gems in 1912
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/12/04/torontos-architectural-gems-in-1912/
Toronto’s architectural gems – the bank on the northeast corner of Queen West and Spadina
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/12/02/torontos-architectural-gemsbank-at-spadina-and-queen-west/
Photos of the surroundings of the CN Tower and and the St. Lawrence Market in 1977
The St. Lawrence Hall on King Street
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/04/28/enjoying-torontos-architectural-gems-the-st-lawrence-hall/
Toronto’s streetcars through the past decades
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/03/26/memories-of-torontos-streetcars-of-yesteryear/
History of Trinity Bellwoods Park
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/04/09/the-history-and-beauty-of-trinity-bellwood-park/
A history of Toronto’s famous ferry boats to the Toronto Islands
Toronto’s Old City Hall at Bay and Queen Streets
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/04/22/enjoying-torontos-architectural-gems-old-city-hall/