Metropolitan United Church

Home
Canada
Toronto, ON
Metropolitan United Church

Call Directions Website Contact the place of worship

An Affirming ministry of the United Church of Canada in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hope, healing, and beauty in Jesus' name.

Church Office Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Open Hours (Sanctuary):
Monday to Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Sunday 9:00am - 12:30pm

Metropolitan United Church has a long history of worship and service that began in 1818 in what is now the commercial heart of Toronto. The first building housing the congregation was a small Methodist chapel located on nearby King Street. Membership grew, along with population, so in 1831 another site was acquired on Adelaide Street, and the Newgate Methodist Episcopal Church, a Georgian-style building was opened in 1833, to accommodate 1,000 people. In 1868 the Methodist Church purchased the present square-block property and constructed Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church, which was dedicated in 1872. (Dr. Anson Green recalled this purchase in his autobiography, and we have provided an excerpt below.) The building seated 2,300 and was described as Canada's "cathedral of Methodism." The United Church of Canada was formed in 1925 by the union of Methodist and Congregational and two-thirds of the Presbyterian churches in Canada. Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist became Metropolitan United and was chosen as the site of the first General Council of the United Church. In 1928 fire destroyed most of the church building. Determined to rebuild on the old foundation, the congregation commissioned a redesigned structure

The largest organ in Canada, built by Casavant Frres in Quebec, was installed in the rebuilt church and first played in 1930. The five-manual instrument has been updated and restored over the years, but the original console has been retained. In 1998 a gallery organ was added. The organ has 8,233 pipes; the largest is 32 feet high, and the smallest is the size of a pencil. The first harmonically tuned carillon in North America of 23 bells was installed in Metropolitan's tower and first played in 1922. The tower and carillon survived the 1928 fire, and in 1960 12 bells were added. Installation of another 19 bells in 1971 brought the total to 54. The largest bell weighs 3,836 kilograms (8,456 pounds) and is 183 centimetres (72 inches) in diameter. The congregation of Metropolitan United Church has voted to be recognized as Affirming: welcoming of all people regardless of their sexual orientation to worship and minister among us (www.affirmunited.ca). Metropolitan United Church now serves a unique congregation drawn from throughout the City of Toronto and surrounding communities. Many people come from miles away to attend the church because it is large and historic, but decidedly modern in outlook. The extensive facilities in the main church building serve the spiritual and educational needs of worshippers, and are also used throughout the year for comprehensive community service programs. These provide assistance and activities to minister to the body, mind and spirit of people in downtown Toronto.

10/15/2026

Today at Noon at Met, we have mezzo soprano Kcenia Koutourjevski!

See you at 12 noon, in person at Metropolitan United Church, or online at https://metunited.online.church/

10/14/2026

Here's Part 4 of our stained glass restoration series, where we get to see more behind the scenes action at the conservator's workshop!

Part 2 of behind the scenes work at the conservator's workshop!

10/13/2026

Rev. Jason's Thanksgiving Sunday and post-fire drill sermon, "16 Days"

...

10/10/2026

This Thanksgiving Sunday, we are invited to recognize the meaningful ways God is moving our lives and the life of the world.

If you have family or friends visiting this long weekend, please consider inviting them to church - the love Christ offers is given freely to all - and someone in your life may need to feel that right now.

10/09/2026

Pics from yesterday's Wild Church service at the Toronto Music Garden 🎵🎶🌺🌳

Thank you to everyone who joined!

10/08/2026

A quick reminder that today is Noon at Met, featuring Peter Nikiforuk on organ!

Join us in person at 56 Queen Street East, or online at https://metunited.online.church/

See you there!

10/07/2026

Part 3 of our stained glass window conservation series is now up!

Let's join Frank as he takes us to the conservator's workshop to show us more behind the scenes action...

We continue the journey of our stained glass restoration work, this...

10/06/2026

Reflections on Communion by Bishop Luis Andrés Caicedo Guayara and Rev. Jason

...

Address

56 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
M5C2Z3

Telephone

+14163630331

Website

http://www.metunited.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Metropolitan United Church posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Metropolitan United Church:

Want your place of worship to be the top-listed place of worship in Toronto?