Parishioners gather in parking lot after historic church fire
Parishioners of Toronto's St. Anne's Anglican Church gathered in the parking lot Sunday for the first service since the historic church burned down exactly a week ago.
The church issued a statement Saturday advising people who plan to attend the service in the Parish Hall parking lot to bring a hat or parasol for sun protection and a folding chair, if possible.
The Sunday fire ravaged much of the church, destroying the national historic site's unique murals painted in the 1920s by three members of the Group of Seven.
Rev. Don Beyers, of St. Anne's Anglican Church, previously said despite the fire, the church is committed to working with the Dufferin Grove and Davenport community to serve its congregation.
Officials haven't yet released a cost estimate for the damage. The blaze destroyed the building's dome and caused heavy damage to the rest of the Byzantine-style church that was built in the early 1900s. No injuries were reported.
Toronto police have said the fire is not being investigated as suspicious.
Beyers said on Wednesday the church had planned to sell Parish Hall because it is old, it isn't accessible and it's approaching the end of its lifespan. They had hoped to sell to a developer that would build mixed-income housing. But that plan is now on hold as the church figures out how to move forward, he said.
"The hall is becoming a place where we can continue our ministry at this time," Beyers said.
"For us, this is going to be an important place in the coming weeks and months and probably years as well. Right now, this just means we have to pivot."
