Our Story
The new church was called St. John’s Evangelical Church, Independent. They first met on the last Sunday of May 1928 in Beulah Hall on Charles St. East. On June 13th the church was formally constituted with a membership roll of 297 names. The Charter of Incorporation dated July 3rd, 1928 was adopted on July 24th. The new Palace Theatre at Pape and Danforth was used for Sunday morning and evening services, Earl Grey School on Jones Avenue was used for midweek services and Playter Hall, at Danforth and Broadview was used for Youth meetings.
The church was greatly blessed under the ministry of William Nisbet and the congregation felt its loss when he accepted a call to a church in Northern Ireland in 1932. In January 1933 Rev. J Fisher Anderson was welcomed as pastor. During his brief stay the Word was preached faithfully, people were blessed, more missionaries were sent to foreign fields, the congregation grew and the membership roll reached its highest point for the 1930’s. When Fisher Anderson left to move to Scotland in 1934 Pastor Nisbet returned and his faithful ministry built a solid foundation for the future, and produced God-fearing and effective Christian workers.
Pastor Nisbet retired in 1941. In 1943 God met the congregation’s need with the leadership of Stewart Boehmer. With his coming, the church was given its present name, Calvary Church. Pastor Boehmer served Calvary for 14 years until December 1956. His ministry saw much growth with the physical addition of the upper auditorium in 1951, and the purchase of the houses adjacent to the church as homes for missionaries on furlough. The missionary budget was increased, Sunday School attendance soared and a daughter work, Morningside Park Gospel Church was formed. Pastor Boehmer’s had a profound influence not only on Calvary Church but on Toronto, and in time on congregations and Sunday Schools across the continent.
In 1958, Rev. Arthur Lee from Edinburgh, Scotland took up the leadership. His preaching, teaching and pastoral visitation was a rich blessing to the church and the local community. Another daughter church, Parkway Bible Church was established and many of Calvary’s young families attended because it was close to where they lived. God was faithful and new people, attracted and helped by Pastor Lee’s ministry filled the vacant places. Arthur Lee’s eight years of ministry (1958 – 1966) saw marked changes in the demographics of the area but the church leadership were determined to stay and minister to the immediate community. A new Christian Education Building, containing a gymnasium, classroom and meeting spaces was built in 1962 and symbolized the church’s commitment to minister to the neighbourhood. In August 1996 Pastor Lee accepted a call from Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston.
The opening of the Pape Subway Station in 1966 just across the street from the church put Calvary within easy reach of many. The Subway station was also the drop-off point for many bus routes, bringing people from many parts of Metropolitan Toronto. With this in mind Calvary’s Board of Elders looked for a new man to fill the pastoral vacancy who would be fitted to minister to the larger city as well as the more immediate community.
In response to much prayer the Lord sent Rev. Gerald Griffiths, from Edinburgh, Scotland in October 1967. Attendance grew higher than ever before and his clear, practical ministry was received by young and old, and attracted many students. The Christian Education Building became “home” for Greek, Spanish and Italian congregations. Age appropriate fellowship groups were established, “Wednesday Family Night”, with programs for all ages was established, and new approaches were used to reach children in the community. The number of supported missionaries continued to increase and a number of local mission/outreach organizations were also supported. The church built Nisbet Lodge, a Senior citizens home, right next door to the church. Renovations to the Sunday School area in 1971 and to the main auditorium in 1978 helped upgrade the building for a more efficient ministry.
Dr. Griffiths retired in November 1990. In June 1992, The Lord answered the prayers of the people and sent Rev. Ian Campbell to be the pastor of the church. Pastor Campbell brought a new and more contemporary approach to ministry. Changes in styles of worship & music were introduced; “Small Group” ministries in homes and ESL classes began; sponsorship was offered to some for immigration purposes, an International Sermon Reflection group was held; and a Day Camp Ministry to our church youth was revived. An “Out of the Cold” program began to provide a hot meal for those in need on Tuesday evenings each week throughout the winter months and McClintock Manor, a non-profit apartment building for independent seniors was built in 1993. The church service was changed to start at 10am followed by Sunday school at 11:15 in order to strengthen the teaching ministry of the church. The result was an immediate increase in the number of adults in the Adult Bible Classes. In 1994 an Ethiopian Congregation began sharing our church building for Sunday afternoon Services, Bible Study and Youth meetings on other nights of the week.
When Ian Campbell moved on to a new ministry in July 2001, Calvary found itself looking for a new Pastor once again. Pastor Tom Lambshead began his ministry amongst us on January 1st, 2003. There have been two significant outreaches to the youth of our community during this time. Our Day Camp Program which changed to a Performing Arts camp in 2002 has expanded to serve youth beyond our own church drawing the majority of its campers from the local community. The other is Pape Youth Centre which has programs for youth in Grades 6 – 8 on Friday evenings from 3:30 – 7:00 pm and for High School youth from 8 – 10 pm. Under Pastor Tom’s caring, gentle and wise leadership we have continued to grow, having a sincere desire to fulfill the mandate of our Mission Statement: of existing “to mobilize our community of believers to demonstrate and share their faith consistently where they live and work among the nations”; with the vision of becoming REAL (ROOTED, ESTABLISHED AND LOVED) people of God.
Our story isn’t finished. Much remains to be done. Trusting God alone, we go forward with expectation and dedication to love God, to love others and to follow Jesus. |
Calvary Church has been actively serving the people of Toronto from the Pape and Danforth community for over 80 years now and from the very beginning it has experienced God’s blessing. Calvary began with Rev. William Nisbet accepting a call to remain in Canada and not return to his native Ireland to be the pastor of a new church in Toronto.