Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church

Location: Golfview Ave. and Gerrard St. E.

Date photo taken: 20 February 2016

I find Toronto's places of worship fascinating. They range from grand cathedrals to small storefront operations and there are lots of them. Most churches are purpose built and have a pretty unique floor plan and yet they are susceptible to the same shifts in demographics that other buildings face. What happens to a church when the congregation moves on? This church provides an interesting example. 

This building is the second church on this site. The original Glenmount Methodist Church was a small one storey white building built around 1913. It was quickly replaced by this structure, and when the United Church was formed in 1925 from the union of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches, it became Glenmount United. In 1984 it amalgamated with Rhodes United, also on Gerrard and very similar looking, and this building was sold to the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. MCC is a welcoming congregation involved in LGBTQ rights and according to their website, this building was the first property owned in Canada by a lesbian and gay organization. In 1991 MCC moved on to another location and this building was sold to its current occupants, the Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church. This congregation first held services in Toronto in 1833 and counted among its members both free men and runaway slaves. It moved several times over the years and when their property near Queen and Soho sold to developers in 1991, they purchased this building where they continue to hold services.