On Saturday, April 8th, ULI Toronto members had the privilege of experiencing a private tour of the city’s St. Michael’s Cathedral and St. James Basilica, which uncovered the inner workings of church organizations that often go unseen to the average visitor. Carol Bragagnolo,the project manager working on St. Michael’s restoration, and Nancy Mallett, the archivist at St. James, led the tours at their respective churches. They are both experts in how these institutions operate and were able to reveal years of cultural preservation that continues to define and showcase history within the spiritual and architectural remnants of the past.

The tour began at St. Michael’s Cathedral, where members observed the grandiose features of Gothic architecture that included a pointed arch and intricate sculptures, drawing the attention of observers upward. Historian R.H. Hubbard says this style brought architectural unity to Toronto’s religious institutions as a display of the country’s first national expression in architecture, which is similarly exemplified by St. James Basilica. A juxtaposition of Neo-Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles, in contrast to modern contemporary architecture, allows the community and tourists alike to experience the historical legacy of religious institutions, which are closely tied to the evolution of the city itself.

As we led through various sections of the church, the group reflected up different periods of time as history is displayed within the physical design and spiritual aspects of the institution. Although St. Michael’s and St. James differ in terms of their denominations, they each stand to represent a reimagining of the past by persevering to define social and spatial relations today.

The church has played a prominent role in city life through the forging of partnerships among diverse groups within society and acting as places of convergence. Both St. Michael’s and St. James acted as a refuge for those in need as a result of the conditions experienced during different periods throughout the 19th century. They gave a sense of purpose to members of the community through collective engagement in their initial construction, which persisted to form the basis of social interaction. This was recognized when ULI members were led to the Crypt Chapel at St. Michael’s. The remains of significant members of the community who have generously contributed to the church rest within the crypt. Their presence demonstrates a level of engagement as part of a communal initiative within a growing community. The discoveries that were uncovered through work that began within the crypt became the foundation, both literally and figuratively, of the comprehensive plan to restore the cathedral.

Evan Boudreau, writer for the Catholic Register, mentions how the Great Famine of the mid-19th century in Ireland mobilized 38,000 Irish to immigrate to Toronto between May and October of 1847 alone. The pursuit of a better life, in different respects, was a mechanism to enable greater ties to place by shaping a sense of community and establishing solidarity that was centered around St. Michael’s. Fr. Busch, current pastor at St. Michael’s, illustrated this by sharing how people of other faiths in the city came out to dig the foundation of St. Michael’s in April 1845 despite their differences. Similarly, St. James became Toronto’s first hospital where the sick and wounded of all faiths were tended to during the War of 1812. St. James is characterized by its ethnic diversity with parishioners from Kenya, Liberia, Africa, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent’s and China, among others. Aboriginal and Chinese priests work within the church, has also been the recipient of a community service award from the Muslim community of the GTA.

As the group moved on to St. James Basilica, similar aspects seemed to mirror St. Michael’s. Each organization has maintained a leading role in providing public service to the community. However, each religious institution is improving the scope of services being offered through technological advancements to provide for needs in a 21st-century manner. In doing so, they offer new and versatile uses of space and are delivering state-of-the-art technology to viewers and/or visitors that re-emphasizes a religious presence in the community.

The group was led through the Cathedral Centre at St. James, which was recognized by Toronto’s Urban Design Awards in 2013. In offering a variety of services, the centre is able to maximize the use of space. It encompasses a cohesive system that includes services for healthcare, office space, meeting rooms, archives and apartments. In providing a platform for public use, it enables a source of funding for ongoing cost obligations.

In the process of re-imagining the past, certain forces are revealed that have contributed to the development of the city in association with the church as a source of social change and spiritual growth. Michael Swan, another writer for the Catholic Register, refers to Toronto as a city that consists of a secular diversity of cultures, faiths and languages, it’s important to provide knowledge on the foundations that have shaped the structures and systems that exist today.