McCaul Street Synagogue – Originally New Richmond Methodist Church

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TorontoJourney416
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Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, also known as McCaul Street Synagogue, was originally home to New Richmond Methodist Church and was once located at 65-69 McCaul St (on the east side opposite Grange Rd) in Downtown Toronto.

Built in 1888/89 at the cost of $23,000, architects Smith & Gemmel designed the New Richmond Methodist Church. Their previous church was on Richmond St W, hence the name.

In 1905 the McCaul Street Synagogue purchased the building. In 1952, they left the McCaul St location to merge with their sister Synagogue, Goel Tzedec, at 403 University Ave and were renamed Beth Tzedec. The congregation later moved to their current location at 1700 Bathurst St.

The building at 65-69 McCaul St no longer exists. McCaul St was previously known as Renfrew St.

McCaul Street Synagogue Photos

1950s - McCaul Street Synagogue, originally New Richmond Methodist Church, was once located at 65-69 McCaul St, on the east side opposite Grange Rd in downtown Toronto. The church was torn down and was replaced with the present-day residential buildings
1950s – McCaul Street Synagogue, originally New Richmond Methodist Church, was once located at 65-69 McCaul St, on the east side opposite Grange Rd in downtown Toronto. The church was torn down and was replaced with the present-day residential buildings (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 396)
1930 - Looking southeast towards the McCaul Street Synagogue, originally New Richmond Methodist Church, once located at 65-69 McCaul St
1930 – Looking southeast towards the McCaul Street Synagogue, originally New Richmond Methodist Church, once located at 65-69 McCaul St (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 990)
1956 – Looking east towards the McCaul Street Synagogue, also known as Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, once located on McCaul St opposite Grange Rd. Notice the for-sale sign on the door
1956 – Looking east towards the McCaul Street Synagogue, also known as Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, once located on McCaul St opposite Grange Rd. Notice the for-sale sign on the door (Toronto Public Library R-179)
Circa 1955 - The interior of McCaul Street Synagogue that was once located at 65-69 McCaul St in downtown Toronto
Circa 1955 – The interior of McCaul Street Synagogue that was once located at 65-69 McCaul St in downtown Toronto (Ontario Jewish Archives, Item 1772)
2023 – Looking east from Grange Rd towards where McCaul Street Synagogue and the New Richmond Methodist Church once stood at 65-69 McCaul St
2023 – Looking east from Grange Rd towards where McCaul Street Synagogue and the New Richmond Methodist Church once stood at 65-69 McCaul St
Circa 1955 - McCaul Street Synagogue was once located at 65-69 McCaul St. The church was originally home to New Richmond Methodist Church, built in 1888/89 and designed by architects Smith & Gemmel
Circa 1955 – McCaul Street Synagogue was once located at 65-69 McCaul St. The church was originally home to New Richmond Methodist Church, built in 1888/89 and designed by architects Smith & Gemmel (Ontario Jewish Archives, Item 1771)
Sketch of New Richmond Methodist Church, later the McCaul Street Synagogue
Sketch of New Richmond Methodist Church, later the McCaul Street Synagogue (Landmarks of Toronto Volume 4 by J Ross Robertson – 1904)
1910 - Goads Map showing the location of the McCaul Street Synagogue that occupied the building once at 65-69 McCaul St from 1905 to 1952
1910 – Goads Map showing the location of the McCaul Street Synagogue that occupied the building once at 65-69 McCaul St from 1905 to 1952 (Toronto Public Library)
1899 - Goads Map showing the location of the New Richmond Methodist Church that occupied the building once at 65-69 McCaul St from 1889 to early 1900s
1899 – Goads Map showing the location of the New Richmond Methodist Church that occupied the building once at 65-69 McCaul St from 1889 to early 1900s (Toronto Public Library)
1950 - Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, known as McCaul Street Synagogue, left the McCaul St location in 1952. They merged with their sister Synagogue, Goel Tzedec, at 403 University Ave and were renamed Beth Tzedec
1950 – Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, known as McCaul Street Synagogue, left the McCaul St location in 1952. They merged with their sister Synagogue, Goel Tzedec, at 403 University Ave and were renamed Beth Tzedec (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 199)
1950 - Looking north on University Ave from north of Queen St W. On the right is the University Avenue Armouries, then beside it is Goel Tzedec Synagogue (later renamed Beth Tzedec), and in the distance is Queen's Park
1950 – Looking north on University Ave from north of Queen St W. On the right is the University Avenue Armouries, then beside it is Goel Tzedec Synagogue (later renamed Beth Tzedec), and in the distance is Queen’s Park (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1128, Series 380, Item 167)
2023 – Looking northwest towards Beth Tzedec, located at 1700 Bathurst St in the Cedarvale neighbourhood of Toronto
2023 – Looking northwest towards Beth Tzedec, located at 1700 Bathurst St in the Cedarvale neighbourhood of Toronto
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