St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica

St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, one of the oldest churches in the city. It is located at 65 Bond Street in Toronto's Garden District. The cathedral is a prime example of English Gothic Revival architecture, designed by William Thomas and primarily financed by Irish immigrants. It was elevated to a minor basilica on September 29, 2016.

Don't miss

• The 260-foot (79 m) spire over the west entrance, one of the tallest structures in the area.
• The large stained glass window of the crucifixion above the altar, imported from France in 1858 and created by Étienne Thévenot, who also made windows for Notre-Dame in Paris.
• The interior features two main arcades of stone with ivory piers and patterned spandrels of blue and red.
• Sixteen cast-iron lanterns hang from the tall aisles, lighting the cathedral.
• The Blessed Virgin chapel on the north and the Sacred Heart chapel on the south, decorated with small colourful stone tiles.
• The semi-circular oak reredos behind the altar, with one large episcopal chair and six smaller chairs for clergy.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica

Cheapest way inToronto Ghost Hunt: Dark History Self-Guided Game4.9★ · 15 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$8 per personSee dates →Most bookedToronto Premium Driving Tour with CN Tower & Boat Cruise4.7★ · 884 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$128 per personSee dates →Top ratedAdmission Ticket: Explore Canada in Miniature Scale4.9★ · 461 travelers2-3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$33 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• The cathedral is located at 65 Bond Street in Toronto's Garden District, northwest of Church and Shuter streets.
• The main entrance is on the west side at 65 Bond Street. The building is set back from the street with a tall iron fence and a stone-paved roundabout.
• The cathedral has a capacity of 1,600 people.

A bit of history

Construction began on April 7, 1845, with townspeople digging the foundation by hand in return for a barbecue. Shipwrights made the interior columns from maple and oak. The cornerstone, laid on May 8, 1845, contains fragments of a stone pillar and oak roof from York Minster Cathedral in England. The cathedral was dedicated on August 29, 1848, and consecrated on September 29, 1848. The 79-meter bell tower was consecrated in 1866. The cathedral played a role in founding St. Michael's Hospital during a diphtheria epidemic in 1892.