HISTORY OF RPC
Rosedale Presbyterian Church on May 20, 1949
Photographer: Howard MacDonald
Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives
History of Rosedale Presbyterian Church
In early 1907, a group of new residents in the Rosedale area of Toronto explored the possibility of establishing a Presbyterian church for the approximately 100 families in the area.
The congregation had many beginnings, but for historical purposes, January 19, 1908 is considered the official founding date, as this was when the first Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed by the congregation under the name Rosedale Presbyterian Church.
The original plans for the church building, designed by Chapman & Griffin, included a large sanctuary on what is now our present lawn, a significant portion extending onto what is now Mount Pleasant Road. As part of the church’s fundraising campaign, the congregation diverted its efforts to respond to an urgent appeal for financial assistance to build a church in Weihui, Henan Province, China, later named Rosedale Church. This early involvement in mission work occurred even before ground was broken for Rosedale's own building. Partly as a result, the planned large sanctuary was never built, a fortunate turn perhaps, as in 1947, the City of Toronto expropriated a large portion of the original church property for the construction of Mount Pleasant Road.
The date inscribed on the peak of the exterior wall of our more compact sanctuary is 1909. In January of that year, the church’s first minister was inducted, and the first marriage was performed. The formal dedication of the building took place on April 17, 1910.
Rosedale Church continued to grow and extend its outreach. In 1922, following World War I, the church participated in a national Presbyterian program called the "Forward Movement," which included a scheme for establishing hospital units in remote areas. The women of the church aimed to raise $1,000 for a nurse's salary as a gift to the Peace Offering Fund and as a war memorial for those on the honour roll. The goal was later increased to $5,000, leading to the establishment of the Rosedale War Memorial Hospital in Matheson, Northern Ontario, on September 14, 1922. Between 1920 and 1924, a total of $10,000 was donated for this project. This building is now known as the Rosedale Long-Term Care Centre.
The Presbyterian Church faced significant challenges across Canada during the Church Union movement which culminated in 1925. Rosedale voted 143 to 125 to remain within the Presbyterian Church in Canada; however, the congregation did lose about one-third of its families as a result.
The Great Depression and World War II impacted everyone, including Rosedale. As in the Great War, many members of Rosedale's congregation gave their lives in service. Following World War II, families began to grow and prosper once more. In 1949, the church’s mortgage was paid off, and in later years, a manse was purchased.
By the early 1950s, a second service was necessary, and additional space was needed for Christian education. Under the vision and guidance of Dr. James D. Smart, Rosedale’s minister at the time, the Christian Education building was erected and officially opened on September 18, 1955. The building included a kitchen, lounge, large meeting hall, and several classrooms.
In November 1982, our magnificent Karl Wilhelm organ was dedicated, which together with the Sauter grand piano in the chancel, provides a strong foundation for Rosedale’s excellent music program.
Over the years, significant updates and changes have been made to the buildings, most recently during the COVID lockdowns. A recent upgrade of our sound system, together with our new video capacity, made it possible to cast our services online during those COVID lockdowns, and our on-line ministry continues today.
