Buried deep in the back of office towers and surrounded by the trappings of the first gentrification waves in Toronto during the 1980s and 1990s sits St. Andrew's United Church at 117 Bloor Street.
A church that once thrived with numerous professionals, artists, musicians and seniors is now reduced to a mere shell of its original self. Now, looking to redefine its role in a downtown community that has changed so dramatically since I first set foot in its doors in 1986 might be a task that will either lead the church to a new beginning or result in its shuttering, like many mainline churches and parishes before it.
When my friend Darlene, who once served as the clerk of session at St Andrews, appeared there just a few months ago, there were only five people still present, and only a handful of others to listen and worship. The attention to the music program was still there. Still, again, its dwindling numbers of participants speak volumes of a church crying in the wilderness rather than a congregation reaching out into the wilderness to rescue those trapped in the new poverty faced by many in the Greater Toronto Area.
So, you must ask what happened, what changed, to bring what was a vibrant church to what seems to be its proverbial knees. Although not being an expert and having moved back home to Alberta years ago, I can only surmise from the observations that I made while there.
Upon my arrival in Toronto, while walking down Bloor Street, I noticed a sign indicating Rev. A. Groome. I suspected there could only be one individual with that name, and indeed, I discovered Professor Agnes Groome, who was an associate minister to John Hartley. Agnes persuaded me to stay and join the congregation, which initially proved to be challenging. During the mid-eighties, yuppie culture was prevalent, and many churches were striving to accommodate and rationalize this lifestyle. John Hartley was no exception; his sermons, although insightful, did not deviate not allowing him to address the evident signs of impending change. This period saw not only a significant market correction but also a complete realignment of Canada's economic and industrial landscape.
John appeared quite content to maintain his position without significantly developing a strong and visible outreach arm. Moreover, the community itself underwent substantial changes, including an influx of new Canadians and a large wave of multiethnic individuals moving into the area. Despite the continued presence of the artistic community, St Andrews struggled to adapt to the evolving multicultural landscape of Toronto, remaining predominantly white in a diverse mosaic of cultures.
Unlike the Catholic Church and Islamic religion who made up the bulk of the immigrant population of the time I think the United Church as a whole failed to really embrace the change needed to make a more wholesome transformation to pivot into a more accepting role of changes deep in the very core of our society.
St Andrews seemed to want to stubbornly stay that course and Hartley I do believe was content to allow it to do so as long as he was able to do so and did in fact right up to his retirement.
Once again, the church would be rocked with change and one which at the time to a great many parishioners, and that was the recognition of same sex marriages and unions by the United Church in Canada. A still very homophobic population as well as AIDS still lingering in congregational minds it was a hit that the church suffered through for a decade or more.
This put St Andrews I think on a collision course within two very diverse parts of the congregation. It is safe to say I think that Hartley barely made it by the skin of his teeth as the push was on to have him changed for new ministry.
This marked the beginning of a significant split and enduring wounds that have never been healed. The congregation, rather than exploring the reasons behind this occurrence and considering ways to redefine itself, seems resigned to the notion that the church will cease to exist with their generation.
I in fact was pleased to see that they have hired a new Minister in Jeff Crittenden, he like myself has that prairie upbringing and the youthful energy needed to build St Andrews into a new era. He also understands more than anyone the community which surrounds him and the need for continual outreach into it.
I encourage those in the downtown core and village to come along support and take St Andrews into the future to fit all in the community. A church is just that a building it is the community surrounding it which makes it flourish, and yes, it is a community worth building upon.
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