Destroyed in a June 9 fire, St. Anne’s Anglican Church in west Toronto, a designated National Historic Site of Canada, has been lost along with priceless artwork, including murals believed to be the only religious art created by members of the Group of Seven.
Before 8 a.m. on Sunday morning, a four-alarm blaze erupted at St. Anne’s in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighborhood. firefighters responded to the call. Videos from local news outlets showed black smoke and flames bursting through the church’s domed roof.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Reverend Don Beyers, rector at St. Anne’s, confirmed that the building was empty and securely locked during the incident. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway by Toronto Fire Services, but determining the cause may take weeks. As of June 10, authorities stated that the fire’s cause was unclear but not considered suspicious.
St. Anne’s, built in the Byzantine Revival style between 1907 and 1908, housed significant murals painted by three Canadian artists from the Group of Seven collective. These murals, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, adorned the church’s chancel and dome. In 1996, St. Anne’s was declared a national historic site by the federal government.
Beyers told the reporters that the congregation was “greatly devastated” to learn about the fiery destruction of the church. He also expressed sadness at the loss of the artwork, noting that St. Anne’s had been the only church to feature art by Group of Seven members.
“While my heart is heavy, I have hope,” Beyers said in an open letter published on the parish website June 10. He said St. Anne’s would continue as a parish community and that in the following days he would consult with diocesan and parish leadership to determine where worship would take place as the congregation sought to rebuild.
“Yesterday’s fire was not the end of the story, but rather the beginning of a new chapter,” Beyers added. “We will rise from the ashes stronger and even more committed to our mission to be a church for all people.”
