St Luke’s United Church, originally Sherbourne Street Methodist Church, is located at 353 Sherbourne St (at Carlton St on the southeast corner) in the Cabbagetown Northwest neighbourhood of Toronto.
Built in 1886/87 at the cost of about $76,000, architects Langley & Burke designed the 1200-seat church in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.
In 1959, Sherbourne and Carlton United churches joined to form St Luke’s United Church. Two years later, an extension, offices and a gymnasium were added. The structure received heritage status from the City of Toronto in 1976.
St Luke’s United Church Photos
THIS CHURCH WAS KNOWN AS SHERBOURNE STREET METHODIST WHEN IT OPENED FOR WORSHIP 5 JUNE 1887. DESIGNED BY ARCHITECTS LANGLEY AND BURKE, IT REPLACED A SMALLER HOUSE OF WORSHIP BUILT HERE IN 1871. THE HANDSOME STONEWORK AND FINE STAINED GLASS ARE OF SPECIAL NOTE. MEMORIAL WINDOWS BEAR THE NAMES OF SIR JOSEPH FLAVELLE, SIR ALBERT KEMP, H.H. FUDGER AND RICHARD BROWN, WHO ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PROMINENT TORONTO BUSINESSMEN WERE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION. THEIR PHILANTHROPY AND PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS BEGAN A COMMUNITY-MINDED TRADITION THAT HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE YEARS. IN 1959, SHERBOURNE AND CARLTON UNITED JOINED TO FORM SAINT LUKE’S UNITED CHURCH. (Toronto Historical Board 1987)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 353 Sherbourne St
- Heritage Toronto
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jul 22, 1961, pg 32
- Landmarks of Toronto: Volume 4 by J Ross Robertson (1904)
- Current Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Toronto Public Library