Jarvis Street Baptist Church

Jarvis Street Baptist Church is a Gothic Revival structure located in Toronto, featuring a prominent corner tower embellished with gargoyles and supporting polished granite columns throughout its facade. The building's entrance incorporates double wooden doors adorned with decorative quatrefoil and trefoil motifs.

The structure was built in 1875 with funding from Senator William McMaster and quickly became an important center for religious life in the city. A major fire in 1938 devastated the interior sanctuary, prompting a comprehensive reconstruction of the building.

The church serves as a gathering place for worshippers and has functioned as a center for theological education since its founding. Its internal layout was designed to bring people together in a unified spiritual space.

The building sits at the corner of Gerrard Street East and Jarvis Street, making it straightforward to find and prominent in the neighborhood. Regular services and events provide opportunities to experience the interior and engage with the community.

A large circular window in the roof brought natural light into the interior and served as a distinctive architectural feature of the building. The structure was also among the first in Canada to be equipped with advanced fire safety technology when it was rebuilt.

Location: Toronto

Inception: 1874

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Address: 130 Gerrard Street East

GPS coordinates: 43.66081,-79.37740

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:58