St. James Cathedral

St. James Cathedral at 65 Church St, on the corner of King Street East in Toronto, Ontario, is the Anglican cathedral of the Diocese of Toronto and the congregation's fourth church on its site. The parish dates to the 1790s, when the town of York was founded, and the present building was constructed from 1850 to 1853 after a fire in 1849 destroyed its predecessor. The architect Frederic Cumberland, who designed other key buildings in Toronto, and his partner William Storm, drew up a Gothic Revival plan in stone with a tall, slender spire. Completed in 1874, the spire reaches about 93 metres and was the tallest structure in Canada at the time, and it still ranks among the tallest church towers in the country. The cathedral is a National Historic Site of Canada. Inside, visitors find a long nave with an open timber roof, stained-glass windows and a carved reredos. The tower houses a ring of bells, and the cathedral has a well-known musical tradition including the main organ and choir. A clock in the tower has served as a landmark for York's early residents, and the cathedral's grounds, St. James Park, contain a formal garden maintained as a public space. The building has been repaired many times; major restoration work addressed the masonry, roof and tower, and the congregation continues to fund conservation. Visitors are welcome during opening hours, and the cathedral hosts concerts, services and community programs. Because it is an active place of worship, quiet visits and respectful behaviour are expected, and services take priority over sightseeing. Its location near the St. Lawrence Market makes it simple to combine with other downtown heritage stops.