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Nominated name: MISSION HOUSE LANE

Nominated by:
Dorothea Jakob and Community History Project, c/o Ed Janiszewski, edjan@teksavvy.com

Suggested Location: City Lane Number: #1901
Described Location: Bounded by: Barton, Manning, Euclid and Follis. Runs N-S between Barton and Follis Aves.

At Barton looking north At Follis looking south
Rationale and References:

To honour the "Sisterhood of St. John the Divine", Anglican Nuns, who, near St Cyprian's Church, ran a free dispensary for the poor, mothers' meetings, sewing classes, as well as a "Band of Hope" (see Landmarks of Toronto, Chapter XXVI, pp. 92-94) believed to have been at 84 Follis Ave. See History at: http://www.ssjd.ca/index.html "1890-1912, the Sisters of St John the Divine lived and worked among the poor, elderly and friendless in the Seaton Village Mission, an outlying part of Saint Thomas Parish, later becoming the Parish of Saint Cyprian. In 1898, an Outpatient Department (of St John's Hospital for Women, 28, Major Street) was erected on Follis Avenue, called The Mission House. By 1900 the medical staff consisted of Doctors J. L. T Machell, J.H. Cameron, J.F.W. Ross, A. Davidson, Crawford Seadding, F.C.M. Grasset, U. Ogden, A. J. Johnson, and A. Temple. (This information is from a thesis on Doctors Hospital & Hospital of St John in the Convent Archives". With thanks to Thelma Wheatley.)

See also the biography of the founder of the order (Sarah) Hannah Coome (nee Grier):
http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=8173

Their first work undertaken was house to house visiting and relief. Nourishment and invalid delicacies were carried by the Sisters' hands to the sick and needy. Dinners were twice a week for the poor. There was a dispensary for the sick, a Bible class for boys, clothing for the naked, and feeding the hungry in every sense. Dinners were much needed, especially by young mothers whose homes could not supply them with nourishing food. At first it was called "The Mission House". From the neighbourhood, many, often very astonishing, were the appeals for help. Carrying food to the sick, the aged, and the poor was a daily duty. For some time, the little procession of sisters from church was augmented by six or seven pairs of earnest young Protestants. For the most part the Sisters were accepted as a portion of the scenery of the St. Matthias Parish. Discussion for a name for the two little houses led to "St. John's House", "The Mission House", or "The Convent". The Sisters had difficulty in finding their first house that could be utilized in a suitable locality, but at length, two small, semi-detached houses were discovered, which being in an unfinished state, readily lent themselves to such alterations as were necessary. These houses had begun life as a stable to the corner house and later became the Sisters' first hospital. On the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, 1885 the Mission house formally opened and was blessed by the Bishop of Toronto, It was the smallest convent, perhaps ever known. It was dignified and beautiful. An archway here and a sliding panel there provided the necessary communication between the two houses. By December first the convent was ready for occupation. Mother Hannah's passionate love for nature and for beauty in any form inspired everyone.

The above consists of quotes and paraphrases from:Hannah Grier Coome: A Memoir, A Memoir of the life of Hannah Grier Coome - Foundress of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, Toronto, Canada. London: Oxford University Press, 1933.)

St. Cyprian's Church is extant as Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral, and contains two stained glass windows donated by two of the Sisters. One can imagine the local poor and transients using this lane to approach the dispensary discretely seeking help and hope.