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This church is the derivative of congregations forming together, by an act of Parliament in 1925, which joined Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist churches across Canada to form the United Church. When looking at this site specifically, the current church is the third church that has been erected on site; the first church burned down in 1920, and the second church, originally named Westminster-Central United Church, was demolished in order to be replaced by the current structure.
St. Andrew’s United Church at 117 Bloor Street East, built in 1983, is a Modernist building by Page & Steele partner David Horn. This church is 4 storeys tall and is surrounded by high rise buildings, with the one on site owned by the church itself. The front facing of the building faces Bloor Street, which is a busier and wider street in general, whereas the church backs onto Hayden Street, one of the narrowest streets in Toronto. The building is set back from the street with an open courtyard with steps leading up to a large landing in front of the main entrance.
The site has become important to the community, with members wanting to protect and conserve the historical elements of the building. This building has become very important to the community because it is a multi-use space for a variety of different religious groups and for public activities. Additionally, this project has been financially beneficial for the community with the construction of an office tower on the church's property, giving members a place to work, along with creating a stable income for the church and community members to benefit from.
The character defining elements of this building are the revitalized vintage features implemented into the design. This includes the stained glass windows, wooden alter, reredos, and plaque that were elements from other historically significant sites in the neighbourhood. Having these elements allow everyone to remember the past and to see the progression of the church and community as a whole. Another important feature of this building is the simplicity of the main gathering space. With the space being neutral of religious symbols and the addition of skylights for natural light, it creates a welcoming area for people of all backgrounds and faiths. All of these elements put together bring value, including spiritual and aesthetic value, to the site overall.
