St. John's Church




Church of St. John

Church of Saint John

I don’t know Toronto very well (make that “at all”), but I always wondered about "The Beaches" neighborhood so I was happy to finally drive through the pretty streets along Lake Ontario. The Its history as a resort area for Torontonians reminds me a little of White Bear Lake, where people would ride the streetcar to spend the day in the park and on the beach. The Beaches neighborhood looks very gentrified now, with no outward sign of concessions or carnival rides.

St. John’s is a parish built during that great church construction era of the early twentieth century. The stained glass windows seem to have been added over time, many during the period following WWII as memorials to servicemen killed in the war.




I suspect that the St. Pius X window the rear portico preceded the rest. Pius X was a great promoter of good liturgical music and I’ve seen many a tribute to him in churches of the era. Other windows depict saints like the ever popular St. Catherine of Siena and St. Bernadette.





Saint Pius X

Saint Catherine of Siena

The parish seems prosperous and the priest was pleasantly indulgent, in the manner of Catholic clergy who have presided over many weddings attended by an unchurched congregation.

The only surprise was the presence of a single restroom at the rear of the church. I encouraged some uncomfortable looking wedding guests to try the basement, but the only one who ventured down the stairs said it was "too dark and scary".