The Church of the Redeemer is located at 162 Bloor St W (at Avenue Rd on the northeast corner) in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto.
The Anglican church was designed by the architects Smith & Gemmell in the English Gothic style. The cornerstone was laid on October 16, 1878, and the opening services took place eight months later on June 15, 1879. Constructed from Georgetown stone with Ohio stone facings, the church features a distinctive bell gable. Notable interior highlights include stained glass windows, exposed white brick with red brick band courses, a balcony, and ceiling beams adorned with decorative brackets. Newspapers of the day noted the 800-seat church was located opposite the north gate of Queen’s Park (before the construction of the Legislative Building).
In 1973, the church was added to the city’s heritage register. Since 1983, the 25-storey Renaissance Plaza has surrounded the historic church. This building was designed to enhance the intersection and complement the church’s architecture. Its vertical glass centre reflects nearby structures. The Church of the Redeemer has been a neighbourhood landmark for over 145 years.
Church of the Redeemer Photos
1924 – A constable on point duty, directing traffic at the intersection of Bloor St W and Avenue Rd, in front of the Church of the Redeemer (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 349)April 22, 2020 – Looking northeast towards the Church of the Redeemer at 162 Bloor St W and Avenue Rd in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto. Since 1983, the 25-storey Renaissance Plaza has surrounded the churchAugust 26, 1956 – Looking northeast from Queens Park towards the Church of the Redeemer at 162 Bloor St W. Notice the house that was once next to the church. Constructed circa 1910, before it was torn down in the early 1960s, it housed various doctors’ offices (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-1895 – James Victor Salmon photographer)December 25, 2023 – Looking northeast towards the Church of the Redeemer at the corner of Bloor St W and Avenue Rd. A member of the clergy stands on the church steps, just before the Christmas Day services commence1890s – The interior of the Church of the Redeemer. Notice the stained glass windows, the ceiling beams with decorative brackets and over the altar, the inscription “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Toronto Public Library R-1918)May 3, 2026 – A view of the crossing, chancel and apse from the nave of the Church of the RedeemerMay 3, 2026 – The chancel, altar, stained glass windows and apse in the Church of the RedeemerMay 3, 2026 – The beautiful domed ceiling of the apse in the Church of the Redeemer features the words “I Know That My Redeemer Livith”May 3, 2026 – Inside the Church of the Redeemer, at the crossing, looking towards the nave and the main entranceMay 3, 2026 – The narthex (lobby) and front doors of the Church of the Redeemer exiting onto Bloor St W1890s – Looking northeast from the north gate of Queen’s Park, towards the Church of the Redeemer at Bloor St W and Avenue Rd. Notice the fenced lot in the right foreground, which is today the site of The Department of Household Science Building/Lillian Massey Building at the University of Toronto (Toronto Public Library R-1919) 1932 – Looking north from Queen’s Park, south of Bloor St W, towards the Church of the Redeemer at 162 Bloor St W and Avenue Rd. Notice the Alexandra Gates at the intersection of Bloor St W and Queen’s Park, which are now located at the north entrance of Philosopher’s Walk, next to the Royal Ontario Museum (City of Toronto Archives, Series 372, Sub Series 1, Item 1087) March 29, 2020 – Looking north up Avenue Rd from Queens Park towards Bloor St W and the Church of the Redeemer Between 1920 and 1926 – Looking northeast along Bloor St W from west of Avenue Rd toward the Church of the Redeemer. Also, notice the billboard for Davies Perfection Hams and Bacon (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2052)1959 – Looking northeast towards the Church of the Redeemer at 162 Bloor St W (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 56, Item 137 – Alexandra Studio photographs) March 14, 2026 – Looking north towards the Church of the Redeemer on Bloor St W, at the east corner of Avenue Rd in the Yorkville neighbourhood. The church held its first service on June 15, 1879October 24, 2024 – The Church of the Redeemer is located at 162 Bloor St W, on the northeast corner of Avenue Rd, in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto. Built between 1878 and 1879, today, the landmark church is over 145 years oldAugust 1983 – Looking northwest from Bloor St W towards the Church of the Redeemer at Avenue Rd (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 3, Item 103) June 10, 2025 – Looking northwest across Bloor St W towards the Church of the Redeemer and Avenue Rd. The photo also shows Park Hyatt Toronto on the left, and the Renaissance Plaza in the right backgroundMarch 29, 2020 – Bell-gable and weathervane at the Church of the RedeemerJune 27, 2020 – Church of the Redeemer front entrance on Bloor St WJune 20, 2021 – Looking northwest towards the side of the Church of the Redeemer. Notice the Park Hyatt Toronto hotel in the background on the leftMay 3, 2026 – The east-facing side of the Church of the Redeemer, along with the back of the bell gable. A glimpse of the Royal Ontario Museum is visible in the left backgroundMay 3, 2026 – Looking southeast from the rear of the Church of the Redeemer, located at Bloor St W and Avenue Rd in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood. In the background on the left is the University of Toronto’s Department of Household Science, also known as the Lillian Massey Building. The tall building in the centre background is the Park Hyatt TorontoMay 3, 2026 -The rear of the Church of the Redeemer, located at 162 Bloor St W in Toronto. On the church’s left is Renaissance Plaza, and on the right is the Park Hyatt Toronto hotelMay 3, 2026 -The Church of the Redeemer at the northeast corner of Bloor St W and Avenue Rd. Behind the church is the L-shaped Renaissance PlazaApril 2, 2022 – Heritage Toronto plaque crediting architects Smith & Gemmell for the Church of the Redeemer, dated 1879February 3, 2024 – A mural featuring the Church of the Redeemer and other local landmarks has been painted on the wall of a building that backs onto the Jesse Ketchum School
