In a statement on Sunday, Toronto Metropolitan Archbishop Francis Leo said the Anglican church, which dates to around 1908, was “a place where Christians have gathered for over a hundred years to worship and adore Jesus Christ.”
“It was a marvelously constructed place of worship where people could pray to Our Lord while surrounded by beautiful and historic artwork — a place of refuge for believers in the heart of a large and busy city,” the archbishop said.
“Today is indeed a very sad day and I wish to convey my sorrow, solidarity, and my support to the Anglican Diocese of Toronto,” the Catholic prelate said.
Also affected by the fire, the archbishop noted, will be “thousands of people in the surrounding area who have come to rely on the generosity of this parish community in serving meals and caring for the less fortunate.”
“Please know that everyone impacted by this fire will remain in the prayers of the faithful members of the Catholic community throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto today, the Lord’s Day, and in the days and weeks ahead,” the archbishop said.
In a letter addressed to parishioners, meanwhile, the church’s pastor, Don Beyers, said he was “mourn[ing] the loss of our beautiful church.”