Organ Legacies
The powerful sound of St. John’s organ and the story of its evolution in the church’s current Humberside home over the last century is...
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Christopher Rutty
May 6, 20234 min read
Marking the Cornerstone Centennial
This weekend, members of St. John’s Anglican Church, West Toronto, along with those who share its building and many in the neighborhood...
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Christopher Rutty
Apr 29, 20234 min read
Building Inclusivity, Part 1
St. John’s West Toronto Anglican Church takes pride in its inclusivity, in its welcoming “Open Doors and Open Minds” identity. In my...
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Caspian Sawczak
Apr 29, 20233 min read
How Many Roads Must a Man Walk Down?
It was January 15th, the Second Sunday of Epiphany. Only two weeks into the new year, with everyone – or some of us, at least – still...
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Christopher Rutty
Apr 22, 20233 min read
The Bells of St. John’s, Part 2
St. John’s West Toronto Church’s 10-bell carillon remained a distinctive feature of its Humberside home, and of the city, for many years....
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Christopher Rutty
Apr 15, 20233 min read
The Bells of St. John’s, Part 1
On Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, the neighborhood around St. John’s West Toronto was treated to the melodious music of a carillon of 10...
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Christopher Rutty
Apr 8, 20233 min read
The Boy Scouts & St John’s Story
Christopher Rutty & John Webster St. John’s has a rich legacy as a partner with Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the latter continuing today,...
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Christopher Rutty
Apr 1, 20232 min read
Opening Our Doors, 2002-2008 & 2023
It’s now official. St. John’s is opening its doors for “Doors Open Toronto” on May 27 and 28. For those unfamiliar with “Doors Open...
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Christopher Rutty
Mar 25, 20232 min read
Old News Matters, Part 2
In my first “Old News Matters” article -- I described discovering a collection of SJWT newsletters in the church balcony that dated from...
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Christopher Rutty
Mar 18, 20232 min read
Parish Partnerships, Then & Now
Looking back to the Lent 2002 edition of “St. John’s Journal,” our newly installed Incumbent, Rev. Gary van der Meer had just experienced...
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Christopher Rutty
Mar 11, 20233 min read
Notable Women; St. John’s Missionary Nurses
There have certainly been many notable women at St. John’s over its long history. Further to the celebration of International Women’s Day...
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Christopher Rutty
Mar 4, 20232 min read
Archival Adventures
Researching the history of St. John’s in its Humberside home has been supported by historic materials kept and shared by the Diocese of...
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Christopher Rutty
Feb 26, 20232 min read
Musings on May Webster, Part 2
Last week’s SJWT-100th article revealed how May Webster first found St. John’s back in December 1969. For those of us who have been part...
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Christopher Rutty
Feb 19, 20232 min read
Musings on May Webster, Part 1
Among St. John’s current congregation, one person, despite a rather diminutive stature, stands above all others in the longevity of her...
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Christopher Rutty
Feb 12, 20233 min read
Renewing a Concerts Legacy
As highlighted elsewhere in this Newsletter, St. John’s is hosting a concert by Oliver Peart on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm,...
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Christopher Rutty
Feb 5, 20236 min read
Profiling St. John’s Priests: Reverend Canon Maurice P. Poole
Serving St. John’s from December 1964 to June 1983 The May 1983 issue of St. John’s “Parish Newsletter” reflected the sadness of the...
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Christopher Rutty
Feb 5, 20232 min read
Transitions; A Look Back to 1983
In looking back over St. John’s long history, particularly its 100 years on Humberside, the parish has experienced several periods of...
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Christopher Rutty
Jan 29, 20233 min read
What to Tell People About Our Church? Perspectives, 2003 & 2023
Undertaking a 100th anniversary initiative, whether for an organization, or a seminal discovery, or a local church building and its...
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Christopher Rutty
Jan 21, 20232 min read
I Saw Your Ad in Our Church Magazine
Much of St. John’s history at its Humberside home over the past century is recorded in various incarnations of its newsletters, the first...
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Christopher Rutty
Jan 14, 20233 min read
Why We Are Where We Are
The history of St. John’s West Toronto church, like that of the West Toronto Junction neighbourhood, has been very much shaped by its...
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