First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto

The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto is a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is affiliated with the Canadian Unitarian Council. It is the largest of six UU congregations and fellowships in the Greater Toronto Area.

First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
Front entrance of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.
Location	Toronto
Country	Canada
Denomination	Canadian Unitarian Council
Website	www.firstunitariantoronto.org
History
Founded	1845
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Completed	1950s (1993 extensive renovations)
Clergy
Minister(s)	Rev. Shawn Newton and Rev. Lynn Harrison

History

The congregation was founded in 1845, the second in Canada after the Montreal congregation. The congregation originally operated in a building on George Street then but moved to 216 Jarvis Street in 1854. In 1949 the congregation moved to its present building at 175 St. Clair Avenue West.

In 1952, eight parishioners founded the Elizabeth Fry Society after hearing a speech by Agnes Macphail.

Building

In 1993, the building underwent extensive renovations. The main space, named Sunderland Hall, was changed from an east-west to a north-south orientation. Workman Hall, which used to back on to Sunderland Hall as a disused stage was remodelled as a separate space and meeting area. Office and classroom spaces were updated and expanded. An airy narthex was added on the side of the building facing St. Clair including a tower with a stained glass window commissioned for the renovated building. The work is entitled Radiance, Reflection, Revelation by artist Sarah Hall. It was later nominated for the Ontario Arts Council's Jean Chalmers Award as the single largest commission for a stained glass work in the Toronto area.[1]

In September 2007, the city's heritage preservation committee proposed that the building be designated as a heritage property along with eight other church properties in the neighbourhood. At the request of the church's board of trustees, this designation was deferred until the church members could confer on the matter.[2][3]

Governance

The congregation is led by a nine-member Board of Trustees including a President and Vice-President. There is also a Treasurer, considered an ex-officio Board member. Trustees are elected by the congregation to three-year terms with the possibility of one renewal. Minister(s) of the church are considered as employees and are not members of the Board (although they frequently attend board meetings). The Board is responsible for forming policy, making decisions on behalf of the congregation and monitoring the congregation's operations within those policies. All Trustees are volunteers.

The congregation holds annual meetings to elect new Board members and review and approve the annual budget. Other issues affecting the entire congregation are also voted upon, as the need arises, at special meetings of the congregation.

Members

One of the prominent founding members was Joseph Workman, known as the "Father of Canadian Psychiatry". Other notable members include:

• Arthur Lismer, a painter, part of the Group of Seven
• Sir Francis Hincks, politician
• Emily Stowe, the first female doctor to practise in Canada
• William Dennison, the mayor of Toronto
• Donald Macdonald
• Michael Cassidy, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party.

References

1. Heritage Designation Proposal. 2008. Toronto Preservation Board
2. St. Clair Avenue West Church Survey – Inclusion of Nine Properties on Heritage Inventory. September 27, 2007. Toronto Preservation Board and Toronto and East York Community Council.
3. Letter to Preservation Board on the Heritage Designation. December 3, 2007. Richard Kirsh, President, Board of Trustees, First Unitarian Congregation.

External links

• First Unitarian Congregation web site