Frommer's Review
This stunning early English Gothic-style Anglican cathedral owes its existence at least in part to a group of American Loyalists. They joined with a group of British immigrants to found a congregation in 1797, and they were given a plot of land, which today is bounded by Church, King, Jarvis, and Adelaide streets. They started building Toronto's first church on this site in 1803. The original frame building was enlarged in 1818 and replaced in 1831 -- and that burned down in 1839. The first cathedral replaced it, only to be destroyed in the great fire of 1849. The present building was begun in 1850 and completed in 1874. It boasts the tallest steeple in Canada. Inside, there's a Tiffany window in memory of William Jarvis, one of Toronto's founding fathers. All of the stained glass windows are dazzling, but my favorite is the High Altar window -- its lower panel bears a distinct resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper.
In addition to being a great work of architecture, St. James' is a good place to stop and rest for a bit. Unless there's a service going on, it doesn't draw much of a crowd, so it feels like a private oasis in the middle of downtown. St. James' also hosts free concerts every Tuesday at 1pm from September to June.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
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planning your trip.
