The Story of St. Timothy's Agincourt

In the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, there are four churches called St. Timothy. Our church is known as St. Timothy's, Agincourt. Agincourt refers to our location, a neighbourhood in north east Toronto. Here is our story . . .

At the turn of the twentieth century, Agincourt was a small village. It entered the 20th century with the arrival in 1903 of the telephone and the first bank in 1906. In 1911, Anglican lay readers began to conduct services and Sunday School in the Temperance Hall on Brimley Road. They had decided that it was time to establish a place of worship in their own village rather than continuing at old St. Paul's L'Amoreaux, which for 70 years had been the parish church for all Anglicans in the area. Late in 1911, this early committed band of Anglicans purchased the Metropolitan Bank building on Midland Avenue just south of Sheppard Avenue and St. Timothy's Mission Hall was born.

In the early months of 1917, hydro lines were extended up Kennedy Rd to Agincourt. Soon after the end of the war in 1919, a new building boom began in the village. The members of St. Timothy's purchased a new site on the south side of Sheppard and on Tuesday afternoon, October 21st, 1919, the cornerstone of St. Timothy's Church was laid by the Bishop of Toronto, the Right Reverend James Sweeney. It rained. The new church was a little square-towered red brick building 40 feet by 26 feet with a seating capacity of about 100. The church was heated by a central wood or coal-burning furnace and had electric lighting. There were no offices or vestry and the rector and choir had to robe in the basement. The new church was officially opened on Sunday December 12th, 1920 at 3:00 pm. Thankfully, on that day the weather was very fine!

For some years, St. Timothy's was part of a five point parish sharing an incumbent with old St. Paul's L'Amoreaux, the Church of the Epiphany, St. Nicholas, and St. Crispin's. In 1952, the Rev. Robert Mackie arrived. Soon, the members of St. Timothy's decided that an extension to the original church was absolutely necessary and with the aid of a loan from the Diocese the Church was enlarged in 1954 by an addition to the east end of the nave and the building of transepts, chancel, a vestry for the rector, an office for the wardens, and a sacristy. The completed building was opened by Bishop R. H. Wilkinson on November 26, 1954. By this time, St. Timothy's had become a completely independent, self-supporting parish and it no longer had to share its incumbent. Rev. Mackie became its first full-time clergyperson.

The 1950s and 1960s saw sustained growth at St. Timothy's: the church purchased Sheppard Hall, a former commercial shop in 1955 and in 1960 St. Timothy's acquired Lamont Hall, a former printing shop at the south end of the property. A Hallman two manual pipe organ was installed in 1969, and in 1970, a new Rectory on Huntingwood Drive. Under the leadership of Canon Harvey Scuse, in the spring of 1982 the people of St. Timothy's were able to complete new additions: the West Hall, a new kitchen, and Parish Room and offices. Following Canon Scuse, Canon Harold Roberts came to St. Timothy's in 1984. In 1985, the church was made wheelchair accessible with the addition of an elevator, and the parking lot was paved.

After Canon Roberts, moved to the Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1997 the Rev. Dr. Patrick Yu became the Incumbent. Dr. Yu's leadership skills enabled the church to adjust to the rapidly changing demographics of Agincourt. The Church became known for its strong tradition of liturgical celebration, a commitment to education, and a vibrant musical life. During Dr. Yu's tenure the church was instrumental in the continued formation of a number of Curates who have gone on to distinguished ministry including Jenny Andison, Stephanie Douglas-Bowman, and Beth Benson. Dr. Yu's ministry was recognised by the wider Church and he was made a Canon of the Cathedral and then in January 2006 he was elected Suffragan Bishop with oversight over the York-Scarborough area.

After Bishop Yu's election, a time of transition ensued but the Church throve under the leadership of the Rev. Beth Benson who served as interim priest in charge until the Rev. Dr. John Stephenson arrived in February 2007.

While seeking to maintain the strengths of its parish life, St. Timothy's is now positioning itself to deal with the many challenges of urban multi-cultural life in the twentieth century. As it faces the future, it does so conscious of its rich heritage and confident in God's Presence and strength to enable it to meet the needs of the future in Agincourt.

With material from "A history of St. Timothy's Church Agincourt and The Parish of Scarborough" by Robert R. Bonis, 1986.