Fonds F1801 - Metropolitan United Church (Toronto, Ont.) fonds

Metropolitan United Church in Toronto was established in 1925; formerly Methodist. It traces its origins to the first Methodist Church in the town of York (now Toronto); this church was erected in 1818 on King Street near present day Bay Street and was known both as York Methodist Episcopal Chapel and as King Street Methodist Episcopal Chapel. In 1832 the congregation moved to a new location on the southeast corner of Newgate Street (now Adelaide Street) and Toronto Street; this church was known as Newgate Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and later as Adelaide Street Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1868 the congregation acquired the property known as McGill Square on the north side of Queen Street, between Church Street and Bond Street. A temporary structure was immediately built there, and construction of a new building was also started on the same property. In 1872 the new building was dedicated as Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church (the change from Methodist Episcopal to Wesleyan Methodist occurred in 1833). Three years after the union of 1925, Metropolitan United was badly damaged in a fire. It was immediately rebuilt, with some changes to the original 1872 design.It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.