St. James Cemetery (Toronto)

St. James Cemetery is an Anglican cemetery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the oldest cemetery in Toronto still in operation, having opened in 1844. It is the burial ground for the Cathedral Church of St. James. The main entrance to the cemetery is located on Parliament Street, north of the intersection at Wellesley Street West. 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
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CountryCanada
Coordinates43°40′13.9″N 79°22′5.29″W
TypeAnglican Episcopal Cemetery
Owned byCathedral Church of St. James in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
No. of interments89,000 interments and 75,000 cremations
Websitehttp://www.stjamescemetery.ca/

History
Funeral for Canadian militiamen who fought at 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 present location during that era must have been regarded as being outside city limits. The cemetery was necessary as the burial ground around the cathedral itself, in use since 1797, was out of room.

Recognizing the growing trend towards cremation throughout the world, a crematorium was added in 1948. To date over 89,000 interments and 75,000 cremations have taken place at the cemetery.

The cemetery itself is home to the Chapel of St. James-the-Less which sites atop a knoll at the highest point in the cemetery. In its vigorous, 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 Frederick William Cumberland and Storm, one of Toronto's leading 19th-century architectural firms. The cemetery's chapel, the Chapel of St. James-the-Less, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.[1][2]

Notable interments
Mausoleum of James Austin, founder of The Dominion Bank (predecessor of the Toronto-Dominion Bank).
Grave of William Pearce Howland, the second Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

War graves

The cemetery contains the war graves of 42 Commonwealth service personnel, 16 from each of the two World Wars.[36]

References
  1. Chapel of St. James-the-Less Anglican Church, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
  2. Chapel of St. James-the-Less Anglican Church, National Register of Historic Places
  3. McDougall, Robert L. "Adam, Graeme Mercer". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  4. Maga, Carly (October 29, 2011). "Toronto Cemetery Sojourns: St. James Cemetery". Torontoist.
  5. Hayes, Alan L. "Baldwin, Maurice Scollard". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  6. Armstrong, Frederick H. "Barber, George Anthony". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  7. Kyer, C. Ian. "Beatty, William Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  8. "Biography – BERCZY, CHARLES ALBERT – Volume VIII (1851-1860) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
  9. "Premiers honoured". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  10. Blackwell, John D. "Blake, Samuel Hume". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  11. Dalton, I. R. "Simms, Sophia". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  12. Rogers, Nicholas. "Draper, Francis Collier". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  13. Kiefer, Nancy. "Dymond, Alfred Hutchinson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  14. Benidickson, Jamie. "Falconbridge, William Glenholme". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  15. "St. James Cemetery". Heritage Toronto. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  16. Parker, Graham. "Hagarty, John Hawkins". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  17. Houston, Susan E. "How, Frances Esther". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  18. "Edward James Gibson Holland VC". The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  19. Benidickson, Jamie. "Irving, Aemilius". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  20. Hulse, Elizabeth. "Irving, Andrew Scott". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  21. Blackwell, John D. "Jameson, Robert Sympson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  22. Reford, Alexander. "Manning, Alexander Henderson". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  23. Backhouse, Constance. "Martin, Clara Brett". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  24. Bishop, M. Patricia. "McLaughlin, John James". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  25. Dyster, Barrie. "Medcalf, Francis Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  26. Dembski, Peter E. Paul. "Meredith, Sir William Ralph". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  27. Kyer, C. Ian. "Nesbitt, Wallace". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  28. "Death Notice: Orpen, A.M.". Toronto Star. September 23, 1937. p. 40.
  29. Godard, Barbara. "Pickthall, Marjorie Lowry Christie". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  30. Roberts, David; Marchildon, Gregory P. "Plummer, James Henry". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  31. Moir, Michael B. "Polson, Franklin Bates". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  32. Blackwell, John D. "Read, David Breakenridge". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  33. Cook, Ramsay. "Smith, Goldwin". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  34. Einarson, Neil. "Thomas, William". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  35. Romney, Paul. "Widmer, Christopher". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  36. 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, Ont.: Oct 02, 1993. Sec. C. pg. G.8

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