St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church is located at 103 Bellevue Ave (at College St on the southeast corner) in Toronto’s Kensington Market and Harbord Village neighbourhoods.
Built in 1858, the entire property was valued at $30,000. Architect Thomas Fuller designed the red brick and stone-faced Anglican church in the Early English Gothic style. It had a seating capacity of 600. When the church was built, it was surrounded by fields, hence the name.
In 1865, a fire swept through the church. All that remained were its brick walls. That same year, architects Gundry & Langley rebuilt the church, keeping the original church’s design features. A rectory was also built.
In 1878, with a growing congregation, additions and alterations were made by architect Richard Cunningham Windeyer. In 1905, electricity was installed in the church.
St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church received heritage status from the City of Toronto in 1973 and Ontario Heritage Trust in 1977.
St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church Photos
2021 – Looking east from Bellevue Ave at the front of St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church at 103 Bellevue Ave and College St – built in 18581954 – Looking northeast from Bellevue Ave towards St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church (Toronto Public Library R-4393)1858 – Painting of St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church at Bellevue Ave and College St, looking northeast (City of Toronto Archives, Ontario Historical Board Fonds, Fonds 2043, Series 2523, File 131, Item 21) 2019 – St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church at 103 Bellevue Ave and College St, southeast corner1908 – Looking southeast from College St towards St Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church at 103 Bellevue Ave (Toronto Public Library R-4466)2021 – A lancet-shaped window on the north side of St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church at Bellevue Ave and College St, southeast corner Between 1971 and 1991 – Looking west along College St towards the church with the No. 8 Hose Station/Toronto Fire Station 315 in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Ontario Historical Board Fonds, Fonds 2043, Series 2523, File 131, Item 19) Sketch of St Stephen’s Church at 103 Bellevue Ave (Landmarks of Toronto Volume 4 by J Ross Robertson – 1904) 2019 – Looking southwest from College St at the side of St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church at 103 Bellevue Ave 1911 – Looking northeast from Bellevue Ave towards St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church and College St (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 7250) Sketch of St Stephen’s Church interior at 103 Bellevue Ave (Landmarks of Toronto Volume 4 by J Ross Robertson – 1904) May 28, 2022 – The organ at St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church during 2022 Doors Open Toronto1895 – St Stephen Church interior at 103 Bellevue Ave (Toronto Public Library R-4453)May 28, 2022 – The stained-glass windows at St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. The photo was taken during Doors Open TorontoMay 28, 2022 – The inscription reads:
“Destroyed by fire Oct 26, 1865 – Restored & Reopened March 11, 1866”
The photo at St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church was taken during Doors Open TorontoMay 28, 2022 – Inside St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. The photo was taken during Doors Open Toronto May 28, 2022 – Inside St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. The photo was taken during Doors Open Toronto May 28, 2022 – The inscription reads:
“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”
The photo at St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church was taken during Doors Open TorontoMay 28, 2022 – Inside St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. The photo was taken during Doors Open Toronto May 28, 2022 – Inside St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. The photo was taken during Doors Open Toronto 1940 – Painting of the south side of St Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church and the front of the No. 8 Hose Station/Toronto Fire Station 315 on Bellevue Ave (Toronto Public Library R-4453)1890s – Looking northeast from Bellevue Ave towards St Stephen Church (Toronto Public Library R-412)1865 – Looking southeast from College St and Bellevue Ave towards St Stephen-in-the-Fields after a fire gutted the church. Architects Gundry & Langley rebuilt the church, keeping its original design features (Toronto Public Library R-4427)1868 – Looking southeast from College St towards St Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church (Toronto Public Library R-4425)1880 – Looking northeast from Bellevue Ave towards St Stephen Church (Toronto Public Library R-4449)May 12, 2024 – Jesus the Panhandler statue by Timothy Schmalz in front of St Stephen-In-The-Fields ChurchNovember 11, 2023 – The encampment outside St Stephen-In-The-Fields Church2019 – The heritage plaque reads:
St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church
“A fine example of Gothic revival architecture in the style of early English parish churches, St. Stephen-in-the-Fields, named for its original rural setting, represents the work of two of Ontario’s most important 19th-century architects. The church was designed by Thomas Fuller, who later gained renown in fashioning Canada’s first parliament buildings and was erected in 1858 by local landowner Robert Denison. Gutted by fire in 1865, it was rebuilt to plans submitted by the prominent church architect Henry Langley. The restored structure which retains most of the design features of the earlier building, is distinguished by its polychromatic masonry, solid buttressing and open bell-cote. Expanded, then renovated several times, notably in 1985-86, St. Stephen’s remains a landmark within the surrounding community.”
Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Citizenship and Culture
