Religious site
Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto)
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The Cathedral Church of St. James is an Anglican cathedral in downtown Toronto. It is the location of the city's oldest congregation, established in 1797. The current building, the fourth on the site, opened in 1853 and is a Gothic Revival structure designed by Frederick William Cumberland. Its tower and spire, completed in 1874, were the tallest in Canada upon completion and remain the tallest in Canada today.
Don't miss
- The 92.9-metre (305 ft) tower and spire, the tallest in Canada and second tallest in North America after St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
- A peal of 12 change ringing bells, the largest in North America, installed in 1997.
- The original 1853 organ by Samuel Russell Warren, with 5,000 pipes, including trumpet pipes added later.
- Gothic Revival details: pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows that flood the interior with natural light.
- The interior's black walnut pews, gallery fronts, and chancel panelling, with Corinthian capitals.
- A four-sided arch with steeple erected as a military memorial beside the cathedral.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto)
You can visit Cathedral Church of St. James (Toronto) on your own. A guide is worth it for the history and detail that is easy to walk past, and a tour can combine it with nearby sights.
Cheapest way inToronto Essentials Tour: Old Town & Downtown Highlights (PWYC)4.8★ · 43 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$4 per personSee dates →
Most bookedToronto Premium Driving Tour with CN Tower & Boat Cruise4.7★ · 884 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$128 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleNiagara Falls Private Day Tour with Boat Ride, Helicopter & Lunch4.9★ · 150 travelers~9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$313 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- The cathedral is located in downtown Toronto, adjacent to St. James Park.
- The tower has five bells that still ring through the city, and the chiming clock is considered one of the finest examples of a public chiming clock.
- The building is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
A bit of history
The parish was founded in 1797. The first wooden church was used as a hospital during the War of 1812 and was damaged by American troops. A stone church replaced it in 1833, but burned down in 1839. That building was destroyed in the 1849 Great Fire of Toronto. An international competition led to the current Gothic Revival design. Construction began in 1850, and the church opened in 1853. The tower and spire were completed in 1873–1874. The church became the cathedral in 1936 when the bishop's seat moved here.
Common questions
When was the current cathedral built?
Construction began in 1850, and it opened for services on June 19, 1853. The tower and spire were completed in 1873–1874.
What is the architectural style?
It is Gothic Revival, designed by Frederick William Cumberland. The style emphasizes natural light through pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.
How tall is the spire?
The tower and spire are 92.9 metres (305 ft) tall, making it the tallest in Canada and second tallest in North America.
Are there any notable burials here?
Rev. George Okill Stuart and Rev. John Strachan, Toronto's first Anglican bishop, are buried in vaults beneath the cathedral.
What is special about the bells?
The peal of 12 change ringing bells, installed in 1997, is the largest in North America and one of only nine peals of 12 bells outside the British Isles.
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