Interviewing Rev. Gary van der Meer, St. John’s Incumbent, Sept. 2001 – Sept. 2011
Reverend Gary van der Meer, St. John’s Incumbent from September 2001 through September 2011, sat down for an interview with me on Tuesday...
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Christopher Rutty
- May 21
- 1 min
Building Stories & Preparing for Doors Open
As St. John’s prepares to participate in Doors Open Toronto next weekend, for the benefit of the volunteers that will welcome visitors...
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Christopher Rutty
- May 13
- 3 min
Organ Legacies
The powerful sound of St. John’s organ and the story of its evolution in the church’s current Humberside home over the last century is...
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Christopher Rutty
- May 6
- 4 min
Marking the Cornerstone Centennial
This weekend, members of St. John’s Anglican Church, West Toronto, along with those who share its building and many in the neighborhood...
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Christopher Rutty
- Apr 29
- 4 min
Building Inclusivity, Part 1
St. John’s West Toronto Anglican Church takes pride in its inclusivity, in its welcoming “Open Doors and Open Minds” identity. In my...
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Caspian Sawczak
- Apr 29
- 3 min
How Many Roads Must a Man Walk Down?
It was January 15th, the Second Sunday of Epiphany. Only two weeks into the new year, with everyone – or some of us, at least – still...
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Christopher Rutty
- Apr 22
- 3 min
The Bells of St. John’s, Part 2
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
(1)St. John’s West Toronto Church’s 10-bell carillon remained a distinctive feature of its Humberside home, and of the city, for many years....
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Christopher Rutty
- Apr 15
- 3 min
The Bells of St. John’s, Part 1
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
(1)On Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, the neighborhood around St. John’s West Toronto was treated to the melodious music of a carillon of 10...
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Christopher Rutty
- Apr 8
- 3 min
The Boy Scouts & St John’s Story
Christopher Rutty & John Webster St. John’s has a rich legacy as a partner with Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the latter continuing today,...
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Christopher Rutty
- Apr 1
- 2 min
Opening Our Doors, 2002-2008 & 2023
It’s now official. St. John’s is opening its doors for “Doors Open Toronto” on May 27 and 28. For those unfamiliar with “Doors Open...
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Christopher Rutty
- Mar 25
- 2 min
Old News Matters, Part 2
In my first “Old News Matters” article -- I described discovering a collection of SJWT newsletters in the church balcony that dated from...
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Christopher Rutty
- Mar 18
- 2 min
Parish Partnerships, Then & Now
Looking back to the Lent 2002 edition of “St. John’s Journal,” our newly installed Incumbent, Rev. Gary van der Meer had just experienced...
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Christopher Rutty
- Mar 11
- 3 min
Notable Women; St. John’s Missionary Nurses
There have certainly been many notable women at St. John’s over its long history. Further to the celebration of International Women’s Day...
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Christopher Rutty
- Mar 4
- 2 min
Archival Adventures
Researching the history of St. John’s in its Humberside home has been supported by historic materials kept and shared by the Diocese of...
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Christopher Rutty
- Feb 26
- 2 min
Musings on May Webster, Part 2
Last week’s SJWT-100th article revealed how May Webster first found St. John’s back in December 1969. For those of us who have been part...
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Christopher Rutty
- Feb 19
- 2 min
Musings on May Webster, Part 1
Among St. John’s current congregation, one person, despite a rather diminutive stature, stands above all others in the longevity of her...
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Christopher Rutty
- Feb 12
- 3 min
Renewing a Concerts Legacy
As highlighted elsewhere in this Newsletter, St. John’s is hosting a concert by Oliver Peart on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm,...
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Christopher Rutty
- Feb 5
- 6 min
Profiling St. John’s Priests: Reverend Canon Maurice P. Poole
Serving St. John’s from December 1964 to June 1983 The May 1983 issue of St. John’s “Parish Newsletter” reflected the sadness of the...
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Christopher Rutty
- Feb 5
- 2 min
Transitions; A Look Back to 1983
In looking back over St. John’s long history, particularly its 100 years on Humberside, the parish has experienced several periods of...
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Christopher Rutty
- Jan 29
- 3 min
What to Tell People About Our Church? Perspectives, 2003 & 2023
Undertaking a 100th anniversary initiative, whether for an organization, or a seminal discovery, or a local church building and its...
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