Wesley Mimico United Church building has been sold: Jan. 1, 2017 update
March 2022 update:
Click here for Google Maps photo of the building >
The Phoenix Montessori School is now located at the building.
A February 2022 Harper’s article is entitled: “Every Child an Emperor”; the article features a book review of The Child Is the Teacher: A Life of Maria Montessori (2022) by Cristina De Stefano; translated from the Italian by Gregory Conti.
Wesley Mimico United Church building. Jaan Pill photo
An excerpt reads:
Montessori saw her method as one that progressed through trial and error – a scientific method. “There are as many beginnings as there are children,” she said, noting also that “the adult must not remain on high, issuing judgments and grades. The adult must humbly get down among the pupils.” One adherent described her method as being “nothing other than a patient observation of childhood.” She believed that children possess an exceptional capacity for attention, not a diminished one, and that a classroom should be designed to elicit that kind of focus. If a child is inattentive or disruptive in class, it is because they are being coerced into paying attention to the wrong things. If a child seems disorderly, it is because their strong drive toward their own internal sense of order is being broken.
As the article unfolds the reader comes to learn that, her brilliance notwithstanding, Montessori was not an easy person to work with. That said, the review ends on a positive note:
Montessori, her brittleness and imperiousness notwithstanding, left the world a gift of perspective – of centering the potential of a child. Part of what is moving about her method, especially in its inception, is that the inherent value of children is the given from which all else follows. It is the environment around the child that is seen to need amendment or improvement.
*
As noted at an April 7, 2013 post, the contrast in brickwork at the Wesley Mimico United Church building indicates two stages of its construction. The first stage was built between 1922 and about 1924. The second stage of construction was between 1953 and about 1954.
Wesley Mimico United Church building. On the left is addition built between 1953 and about 1954. On the right is original structure built between 1922 and about 1924. Jaan Pill photo
Wesley Mimico United Church building. Jaan Pill photo
Over the years, I’ve observed many proposals to redevelop the church. I’ve read widely about efforts to repurpose church buildings – in Toronto and elsewhere, a topic of interest to many people.
We see a decline in church attendance. Congregations, with fewer members, have less money meaning keeping church buildings in good repair is prohibitive. Difficult choices must be made.
Making sense, and demonstrating agency
(1) How can we make sense of the changes that occur in our lives? Many sense-making options are available.
Wesley Mimico United Church building. Jaan Pill photo
(2) To what extent can we, as citizens, demonstrate a sense of human agency, by way of influencing the direction along which change proceeds?
Again, many options are available. We try out different things. We learn from our experiences.
Previous posts
Click here for previous posts about Wesley Mimico United Church >
Jan. 1, 2017 update – Mimico history blog
Wesley Mimico United Church building. Jaan Pill photo
Michael Harrisons’s Jan. 1, 2017 update, at his Mimico history blog, notes:
The building has been sold and a Montessori School is setting up in the church. I understand that the new owner is working with Heritage Preservation Planning staff at the city on the renovations. However, despite the fact that the stain glass windows were part of the designation under the Ontario Heritage Act prior to the sale the church illegally removed them from the building. City staff have decided not to pursue this violation.
Comments are closed.
-
Jennifer Lee says: Thanks for this update. I just want to add that I spoke with the owner of the Phoenix Montessori school (http://www.phoenixmontessorischool.ca) – they have purchased Wesley Mimico Church as indicated in your blog. I was looking for a preschool program for my son and we live in the community. Without even having a chance to ask any questions — regarding programming, classroom size, number of students – she had the audacity to ask if I can financially commit my child to at least 3 years at her Phoenix Montessori school. She further went to say that their Montessori system may not match with a public school curriculum should I plan to place my child into John English Junior Middle School, the public school across the street. I don’t think Mimico residents are this naive when it comes to money-making private schools such as hers and now that they have purchased the church, I do hope that they find some way of respecting residents in this community.
-
Jaan Pill says: Good to read your comment, Jennifer.
The early years are such an important element in ensuring a person’s success in life. It is so important to research carefully, the options available in the area of Early Childhood Education. It is wonderful to know, that you are proceeding with your homework, in this regard.
-
Jaan Pill says: A March 15, 2022 Halifax Examiner article is entitled: “New life for old churches: As congregations in churches in Nova Scotia get smaller, people are buying up the buildings and transforming them into homes, businesses, or community spaces. But renovating a former place of worship comes with its rewards and challenges, for the owner and the community.”
An excerpt reads:
But Taljaard left much of the character of the church and the sanctuary intact. While she removed the pews and the red carpet in the sanctuary, some of the pews remain as shelving for artwork displays. Some of the original floor made from Douglas fir milled at the once functioning mill down the road remain intact. Taljaard and her team re-stained and resealed the remaining wood. The light fixtures are original, but now they have LED bulbs. A few cabinets were removed from the vestry, which now serves as Taljaard’s office. A space along the side of the sanctuary will serve as an artists’ studio and classroom. The former altar, meanwhile, is filled with displays of local artwork. The colourful stained glass window was untouched.
-
Jaan Pill says: An earlier update:
A June 4, 2018 CBC article is entitled: “This pastor closed his church: Graham Singh is saving a Montreal church by first closing the doors, then opening them wider than ever.”
Thanks for this update. I just want to add that I spoke with the owner of the Phoenix Montessori school (http://www.phoenixmontessorischool.ca) – they have purchased Wesley Mimico Church as indicated in your blog. I was looking for a preschool program for my son and we live in the community. Without even having a chance to ask any questions — regarding programming, classroom size, number of students – she had the audacity to ask if I can financially commit my child to at least 3 years at her Phoenix Montessori school. She further went to say that their Montessori system may not match with a public school curriculum should I plan to place my child into John English Junior Middle School, the public school across the street. I don’t think Mimico residents are this naive when it comes to money-making private schools such as hers and now that they have purchased the church, I do hope that they find some way of respecting residents in this community.
Good to read your comment, Jennifer.
The early years are such an important element in ensuring a person’s success in life. It is so important to research carefully, the options available in the area of Early Childhood Education. It is wonderful to know, that you are proceeding with your homework, in this regard.
A March 15, 2022 Halifax Examiner article is entitled: “New life for old churches: As congregations in churches in Nova Scotia get smaller, people are buying up the buildings and transforming them into homes, businesses, or community spaces. But renovating a former place of worship comes with its rewards and challenges, for the owner and the community.”
An excerpt reads:
But Taljaard left much of the character of the church and the sanctuary intact. While she removed the pews and the red carpet in the sanctuary, some of the pews remain as shelving for artwork displays. Some of the original floor made from Douglas fir milled at the once functioning mill down the road remain intact. Taljaard and her team re-stained and resealed the remaining wood. The light fixtures are original, but now they have LED bulbs. A few cabinets were removed from the vestry, which now serves as Taljaard’s office. A space along the side of the sanctuary will serve as an artists’ studio and classroom. The former altar, meanwhile, is filled with displays of local artwork. The colourful stained glass window was untouched.
An earlier update:
A June 4, 2018 CBC article is entitled: “This pastor closed his church: Graham Singh is saving a Montreal church by first closing the doors, then opening them wider than ever.”