St John’s Polish National Catholic Church

St John’s Parish, originally Cowan Avenue Methodist Church, is located at 186 Cowan Ave (south of Queen St W opposite Melbourne Ave) in Toronto’s Little Tibet/Parkdale neighbourhood.

Built in 1885-86, architects Smith & Gemmell designed the cruciform-shaped, brick and stone church in the Gothic Revival style. The church became too small for the growing congregation within a few years, and they moved to Dunn Ave.

The church was vacant until the mid-1890s when the Presbyterian Church purchased it. Throughout the years, it went through various faiths and name changes.

In 1953, the Polish Catholics acquired the property and altered the church’s interior.

The structure received heritage status from the City of Toronto in 1986 and Ontario Heritage Trust in 1991.

St John’s Church Photos

2021 - St John’s Polish National Catholic Church, originally Cowan Avenue Methodist Church, is located at 186 Cowan Ave, south of Queen St W opposite Melbourne Ave in Toronto's Little Tibet/Parkdale neighbourhood
2021 – St John’s Polish National Catholic Church, originally Cowan Avenue Methodist Church, is located at 186 Cowan Ave, south of Queen St W opposite Melbourne Ave in Toronto’s Little Tibet/Parkdale neighbourhood
1890s - Originally Cowan Avenue Methodist Church, today St John’s Polish National Catholic Church, is located at 186 Cowan Ave, south of Queen St W
1890s – Originally Cowan Avenue Methodist Church, today St John’s Polish National Catholic Church, is located at 186 Cowan Ave, south of Queen St W (Toronto Public Library R-5554)
Sketch of Cowan Avenue Presbyterian Church
Sketch of Cowan Avenue Presbyterian Church (Landmarks of Toronto Volume 4 by J Ross Robertson – 1904)
Cowan Avenue Methodist Church
1890 – Goads Map showing the location of the Cowan Avenue Methodist Church (Toronto Public Library)
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