St. John the Baptist, Norway

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

At 470 Woodbine Avenue stands this church with a large cemetery behind it. A 1977 Toronto Historical Board plaque attached to the building says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.674701 -79.308608

This church, designed by C.J. Gibson, was built in 1893 and enlarged by C.D. Lennox in 1915. Distinctive features are a high-peaked, hammer-beamed roof and stained glass from the original church in an east window. Meetings first began in 1850 and, with the establishment of the parish in 1853, a small wooden school house was moved here and used as a church. The bell, still in use, was installed and the church and cemetery consecrated by Bishop Strachan in 1855. Many United Empire Loyalists and other early settlers are buried here. St. John's founded a number of parishes in East Toronto.

Related Toronto plaques
The Bishop's Palace 1818
Norway Post Office

More
Religious buildings

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted January 22, 2012
I believe you are allowed to walk your dog in this cemetery.

Posted October 20, 2010
My great-grandparents, along with a number of other deceased relatives, are interred in this cemetery. I have visited it a number of times in the past.

Posted October 17, 2010
Being new to this website, I must say right off that I think Alan Brown is providing a magnificent public service in this project. He is to be highly commended for spending his retirement years in such a work which is above and beyond monetary value.
My parents were married at this Church in 1928. One of my forefathers arrived here in the 1790's from the Island of Man. Then, a Jim Smith operated a tavern and tollgate on Kingston Road in the early days of Norway. I have wondered if I would be able to trace my ancestry back to him. Then again, there is some speculation to the effect that he diverted some of the tolls to himself, rather than use them for the ostensible purpose of maintaining the carriage way. Well, the Smith family name being so popular, it would probably be very difficult to prove.
F James Smith, Puslinch ON

Posted October 12, 2009
I saw the newscast on CTV about thieves stealing grave marker plates and vases. I view that as a desicration. Also on CTV was a women walking her dog on a long leash in the cemetary. In my view permitting dogs in cemetaries may very well be a form of desicration as pets may relieve themselves on graves.

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