Toronto's historic St. Anne's Anglican Church went up in flames last Sunday-along with the artefacts it contained.
The four-alarm fire broke out just before 8 a.m. on June 9, and was already well under way when firefighters arrived. Although no one was inside during that time, the fire did destroy the church's domed roof, and the celebrated murals painted by three members of the Canadian artistic clique known as the Group of Seven.
St. Anne's was completed in 1908, designed by architect William Ford Howland, and heavily inspired by Byzantine art and architecture-unusual for an Anglican church. It was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1996. The church's murals were completed in 1923 by three members of the Group of Seven-JEH MacDonald, Fred Varley, and Franklin Carmichael-depicting Old Testament prophets and scenes from the life of Christ. St. Anne's was the only church to display any of the works of the Group of Seven.
St. Anne's destruction was mourned as a loss, not just to its parishioners, but also to the entire community. "It's something that we cannot replace in Canada, and in the world, but this is much more than just a building," said city councillor Alejandra Bravo. "This is a place that has provided support, home, love, brought people from the community together, served needs of people who needed it and provided the spiritual support that people so desperately needed in times where they've also fallen on hard times."
33 Canadian churches have burned down in the last two and a half years, many ruled to be arson. However, officials have said that investigations are still too early to determine the cause of the St. Anne fire.
In the meantime, police have set up an online portal for members of the public to send photos or videos that might help in the investigation, and St. Anne's congregants have started a fundraising campaign for the church.
