Holy Name Parish - An Architectural Danforth Landmark

1925 – This photo was taken during construction in September 1925 from the northeast corner of Danforth Ave and Gough Ave (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 6651)

Holy Name Parish is located at 71 Gough Ave (at Danforth Ave on the northeast corner) in the Greektown neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built from 1915 to 1926, the Roman Catholic church was originally known as the Church of the Holy Name. It was designed by architect Arthur W Holmes in the Renaissance style using Indiana stone. The church was the first in the city to be made entirely of cut stone laid using the broken ashler technique, where the height and length of the stone vary. Steps at each end of the church’s Danforth Ave facade lead to the main entrance. Inscribed over the front doors in Latin is “In nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur,” which means “At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend.”

World War I delayed the construction of the church. In March 1926, the 1050-seat Church of the Holy Name was formally opened and dedicated. When completed, the cost of the church was approximately $250,000.

Today known as Holy Name Parish, the church building received heritage status from the City of Toronto in 1976.

Did You Know?

The parish was established in 1913.
Holy Name Church was designed in the style of The Papal Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
When construction began on the church in 1915, Gough Ave was known as Moscow Ave. By the time the first service was held in 1926, the street had been renamed Gough Ave.