People gather out front of the burnt-out St. Anne?s Anglican Church during an evening vigil to mourn the loss of the church following a Sunday morning fire, June 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
The public reaction to the tragic fire that consumed St. Anne?s Anglican Church on Toronto?s Gladstone Street is remarkable on many levels.
Given how secular journalism covering religious communities continues to decline in Canada, the amount of television and newspaper coverage of the fire is striking.
Moreover, while the unique nature of the church?s design and artwork is heralded as a national treasure (the building was a designated as a National Historic Site), the church has struggled for decades to preserve the building and its murals. Finally, despite being celebrated for its art treasures, a great deal of the media coverage has focused on the impact of the fire on church members and the local community. Beyond its own worship services, the church has engaged in community outreach and was also home to offices and a rehearsal space for a theatre group.
These dynamics bring into clear view the often-overlooked significance of space in contemporary cities and communities, and the impact a dramatic tragedy has on public imagination and community identity.

Rev. Don Beyers leads a group in a moment of silence out front of the burnt out St. Anne?s Anglican Church, during an evening vigil to mourn the loss following a Sunday morning fire, June 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS...