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62 Fern Avenue, Toronto is a former Christian Church which has been converted to a Hindu Temple.
62 Fern Avenue, Toronto has been home to the Prarthana Samaj Hindu congregation since 1979. Founded in 1967, the Prarthana Samaj Hindu is the oldest Hindu congregation and temple in Toronto and [one of] the oldest in North America.
In 2021, the Prarthana Samaj Hindu temple released plans to renovate the temple. This appears to include demolition of the extant building.
Pre-1979 History:
In 1886, the Ruth Street Presbyterian Mission opened at the site of 62 Fern Avenue. This was one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in the Roncesvalles Avenue area.
In 1894, the Ruth Street Presbyterian Mission was renamed the Fern Avenue Presbyterian Church following Ruth Street being renamed Fern Avenue. The Fern Avenue Presbyterian Church moved to Roncesvalles Avenue in 1910 and became known as the High Park Presbyterian Church.
From 1910/1913 to 1979, 62 Fern Avenue was home to the Fern Avenue Church of Christ.
Further research is required to determine with certainty when the extant building was constructed and/or whether the original Presbyterian Mission building was expanded and renovated over time.
Historical photographs and drawings held in the United Church Archives indicate sections of 62 Fern Avenue may date to the 19th century with later 20th century additions added on. Similarly, Roberto Perin in The Many Rooms of this House: Diversity in Toronto's Places of Worship Since 1840 (2017) attributed the date of construction of 62 Fern Avenue as 1890.
(Research by Adam Wynne)