Is It Still There in Toronto?

[Jan Ann]

Hi There

Just discovered thanks to Karen, JJ and others that our GG Uncle Herbert Tivey emigrated to Canada in 1911 from Burton upon Trent Staffordshire England.

he married Harriett Pritchard, another British subject on 1st July 1913 at St Mathews C of E church in Toronoto.  Does anyone know if this church is still there?  Is there a graveyard - just in case they didnt move and were also buried there?

All help gratefully appreciated.

Many Thanks
Jan

[J.J.]

Hi again, Jan...Change your query header to something that says Toronto also...so that those living in the area can see it and help you....we have a
couple of Toronto rootschatters who help, but they are helping on other boards, too... so may see it on the general listing with a proper title...

Had a look under anglican, which would be the modern day name for the
church, I presume...and couldn't find anything...but someone will find this and
show you the way, I'm sure of it...J.J.

[J.J.]

Toronto / Etobicoke: St. Matthew's Islington Church, 3962 Bloor St. W.

Found it under Islington...Must be it, with double t


here's a site thet can maybe give you some help...http://www.toronto.anglican.ca/

[J.J.]

Hmmm....or is this it? certainly doesn't look like an old building, that's for sure....
http://www.stmatthew.ca/


Probably contacting the main site above would be the best bet for finding out  the proper information...J.J.   

( I am in Manitoba...so am just using web search engines)

[MJP]

Hi Jan,

Given the year of marriage, I'm pretty sure you're gong to want St. Matthew's, First Avenue - it is an old church right in the heart of downtown Toronto.  They don't seem to have their own website or email, but here is their contact info from the Anglican Discese of Toronto site that JJ gave above. 

135 First Ave.,
Toronto, ON
M4M 1W9

Clergy:
The Rev. Bruce Barnett - Cowan,
Interim Priest-in-Charge

Telephone: 1-416-461-0692
Fax: 1-416 463-9720
 
Both St. Matthews Islington and St Matthews Oriole (the other two churches mentioned here) are too new, or are in parts of the city that would not have been considered "Toronto" in 1913. 

Hope that helps!

MJP

[Jan Ann]

Hi MJP & JJ (Do any of You have a name) 

Thanks so much for all your help. The photo below is from the image of the marriage in question which took place on 1 July 1913 - It is St Matthews with two 'T's'  Does this make it any clearer?

Cheers
Jan

[J.J.]

Yes, nice and clear and with 2 t's

Haha...thanks, MJP...both of the above said Toronto Ontario ...but I guess that
 is where they now exist... Plus I couldn't find the link to t.o. churches on the site,
myself...but busy color-filled sites make my eyes go buggy...
   Good luck with your research, Jan...
We have names, but we here in Canada prefer to go incognito!!!! ( Just kidding...
anyone who wants to know my name badly enough can find it easily) but I
like to use my initials, now...and so I stick with it...easier to write, don't you think?

  J.J.

[loo]

It is likely the one on First Ave., and I think not likely to be the one in Islington. 
You could email the archivist at the Diocese of Toronto if you don't get anywhere with the actual church.  They will be able to tell you if the Rev. Augustus Forde was the priest there at the time, and it is also very likely that Bruce can tell you that also as there is usually a rogue's gallery in most if not all churches, of former incumbents.  I know that Bruce Barnet-Cowan is still an active priest in that area, although he may be only part-time, and I'm fairly sure the church is still open, but I know it has been struggling.  I can't remember if there is a graveyard there or not, although I have been by it many times.  The neighbourhood is now primarily Chinese immigrants, and it is a fairly densely built neighbourhood;  the neighbourhood is called Riverdale.  I will check next time I go by, hoping I remember.  It's not all that far from me.
It's also possible that there was another church called St. Matthew's at that time somewhere else in the city - which the archivist would know.  Many many churches have been closed since then.  Riverdale might have been "East Toronto", as opposed to "Toronto", but I'm not certain.  The thing that makes me hesitate is that I never heard of Englewood Ave., so I don't know where it was.

[Jan Ann]

Hi Loo

That's really sweet of you

many thanks

Cheers
Jan