First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto

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The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is affiliated with the Canadian Unitarian Council. Prior to that denomination's full autonomy, the congregation was also affiliated with the US Unitarian Universalist Association. Prior to the merger of the American Unitarian Association with the Universalist Church of America, the congregation was affiliated with the former denomination.

[edit] History

The congregation was founded in 1845, the second in Canada after the Montreal congregation. One of the prominent founding members was Joseph Workman, known as the "Father of Canadian Psychiatry". Many other notable members include Arthur Lismer, Sir Francis Hincks, Emily Stowe, William Dennison, and Donald Macdonald, Michael Cassidy. The congregation operated in a building on St. George Street, but moved to 216 Jarvis Street in the 1940s. In 1952, 8 parishioners founded the Elizabeth Fry Society after hearing a speech by Agnes MacPhail. In the 1950s, the congregation moved to its present building at 175 St. Clair Avenue West.