St. James Cemetery (Toronto)

St. James' Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the oldest cemetery in Toronto that is still in use, having opened in 1844.[1] It was originally the burial ground for the Cathedral Church of St. James, but it later became non-denominational. The main entrance to the cemetery is located at 635 Parliament Street, north of Wellesley Street East. Just to the west is the St. James Town neighbourhood, which is named after the cemetery.

St. James' Cemetery
Chapel of St. James-the-Less
in St. James' Cemetery
Details
Established1844
Location
635 Parliament Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°40′14″N 79°22′05″W
TypeNon-denominational cemetery
StyleRural
Owned byCathedral Church of St. James
No. of intermentsOver 95,000 interments and 114,000 cremations[1]
Websitestjamescemetery.ca
Find a GraveSt. James' Cemetery

History
Funeral for Canadian militiamen who fought in the Battle of Ridgeway at St. James' Cemetery, 1866.

The cemetery opened in July 1844 for the burial of people professing the Anglican faith. At that time, most of the city's population of 18,000 lived south of Queen Street West, and the cemetery's location was regarded during that era as being outside the city limits. The cemetery was necessary because the burial ground around the cathedral itself, in use since 1797, was out of room.

The large, impressive specimen of Copper Beech that grows next to the chapel was planted by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) on his visit to Canada in 1919.[2]

Recognizing the growing trend throughout the world towards cremation, a crematorium was added in 1948. As of 2020, over 95,000 interments and 114,000 cremations have taken place at the cemetery.[1]

The cemetery is home to the Chapel of St. James-the-Less, which sits atop a knoll at the highest point of the cemetery. In its harmonious composition, this small funeral chapel is a splendid example of Victorian Gothic design. Its sense of strength and spirituality is derived from the subtle contrast of its stone walls, enveloping roofs, and soaring spire. Erected in 1860 and opened in 1861, the chapel was designed by Cumberland and Storm, one of Toronto's leading 19th-century architectural firms. The Chapel of St. James-the-Less was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.[3][4]

Notable interments
Mausoleum of James Austin, founder of The Dominion Bank (predecessor of TD Bank).
Grave of William Pearce Howland, the second Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Grave of John Robarts, the seventeenth Premier of Ontario.

War graves

The cemetery contains the war graves of 42 Commonwealth service personnel, 16 from each of the two World Wars.[40]

References
  1. "History & Architecture". St. James' Cemetery & Crematorium. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  2. "The Tree Pages". www.canadiantreetours.org. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. Chapel of St. James-the-Less Anglican Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  4. Chapel of St. James-the-Less Anglican Church, National Register of Historic Places
  5. McDougall, Robert L. "Adam, Graeme Mercer". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  6. Maga, Carly (October 29, 2011). "Toronto Cemetery Sojourns: St. James Cemetery". Torontoist.
  7. Hayes, Alan L. "Baldwin, Maurice Scollard". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  8. Armstrong, Frederick H. "Barber, George Anthony". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  9. Kyer, C. Ian. "Beatty, William Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  10. "Biography – Berczy, Charles Albert – Volume VIII (1851–1860) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
  11. "Premiers honoured". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  12. Blackwell, John D. "Blake, Samuel Hume". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  13. Dalton, I. R. "Simms, Sophia". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  14. Rogers, Nicholas. "Draper, Francis Collier". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  15. Kiefer, Nancy. "Dymond, Alfred Hutchinson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  16. Benidickson, Jamie. "Falconbridge, William Glenholme". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  17. "St. James Cemetery". Heritage Toronto. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  18. Parker, Graham. "Hagarty, John Hawkins". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  19. Houston, Susan E. "How, Frances Esther". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  20. "Edward James Gibson Holland VC". The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  21. Benidickson, Jamie. "Irving, Aemilius". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  22. Hulse, Elizabeth. "Irving, Andrew Scott". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  23. Blackwell, John D. "Jameson, Robert Sympson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  24. "Obituaries". The Globe and Mail. 5 February 1947.
  25. "Prominent Sculptress Dies in Toronto". The Ottawa Journal. 5 February 1947. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  26. Reford, Alexander. "Manning, Alexander Henderson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  27. Backhouse, Constance. "Martin, Clara Brett". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  28. Bishop, M. Patricia. "McLaughlin, John James". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  29. Dyster, Barrie. "Medcalf, Francis Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  30. Dembski, Peter E. Paul. "Meredith, Sir William Ralph". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  31. Kyer, C. Ian. "Nesbitt, Wallace". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  32. "Death Notice: Orpen, A.M.". Toronto Star. September 23, 1937. p. 40.
  33. Godard, Barbara. "Pickthall, Marjorie Lowry Christie". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  34. Roberts, David; Marchildon, Gregory P. "Plummer, James Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  35. Moir, Michael B. "Polson, Franklin Bates". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  36. Blackwell, John D. "Read, David Breakenridge". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  37. Cook, Ramsay. "Smith, Goldwin". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  38. Einarson, Neil. "Thomas, William". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  39. Romney, Paul. "Widmer, Christopher". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  40. CWGC Cemetery Report. Breakdown obtained from casualty record.

Bibliography
  • Jones, Donald. "Tombs of Toronto's first families. A walk in St. James' Cemetery recalls the pageantry in our past." Toronto Star. Toronto: October 2, 1993. Section C, p. G-8.
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