The Swedish Church in Toronto: a history

The Swedish Church in Toronto was formed as an unofficial congregation in the 1930’s. This was accomplished by a small group of commited individuals and the support of the Swedish Consulate. The first pastor was Josef Sjöberg and services were initially held at a United Church on Queen Street West. In addition to being a church for Swedes in Toronto, it was where the Swedish holidays were celebrated. The church became an important meeting place, especially during the wave of immigration during the 1950’s.

On April 19, 1953 the Swedish Church was accepted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) as an ethnic congregation belonging to the Eastern Synod. The new congregation had meagre finances, but the church survived mainly through the support of the Synod.

The church was an active place during these early years and groups included: a ladies’ group; a choir; a recreational group; bible study group; Sunday school; Lucia choir; confirmation classes etc. Many people volunteered their time to strengthen the work of the congregation, but perhaps the most involved group was “Damkretsen” (the ladies’ group). They were heavily engaged in arranging bazaars and dinners, as well as organizing the celebration of the important Swedish holidays. This group evolved into a fundamental organization in the church, which continues today (under the name of Birkagruppen – not only for women!).

The main building phase of the congregation was headed by a Swedish speaking Estonian minister, August Raidur, who became the new pastor of the church in 1953. During the first decades, services were held in the First Lutheran Church on Bond Street, in the heart of downtown Toronto. Many congregation members from these early years remain faithful churchgoers to this day.

In 1975, following 22 years of service in Toronto, Pastor Raidur was called to serve a congregation in Stockholm, Sweden. He was succeeded by Tönis Nömmik, who was also a Swedish speaker from Estonia. During his tenure, in the late 1970’s, the congregation moved to the Danish Lutheran Church on Finch Avenue West in Willowdale.

Pastor Nömmik had a very heavy workload serving the Swedish congregation, as well as Estonian congregations in Toronto and Hamilton; therefore, he sought assistance in the person of Maj Halliwell, a Salvation Army Officer of Swedish background. The Bishop in Kitchener granted a venia to Maj which gave her permission to deliver sermons and to baptize.

Pastor Nömmik initiated discussions with the Swedish Church Abroad (SKUT) since he felt that the Swedish Church in Toronto was fulfilling an important role for Swedes in Canada. He was instrumental in opening the dialogue which resulted in official support and recognition from SKUT, which was realized in 1990. This meant that SKUT would play for a resident pastor and in 1991, Lars Frisk arrived to assume the responsibilities of our congregation. Shortly after their arrival, a parsonage was purchased near the church to accommodate Pastor Frisk, his wife Torgun and their family. Under their leadership and active engagement, the congregation blossomed: activities expanded; services were held every week; children’s activities increased; youth involvement strengthened. During these years, the congregation did not have to concentrate on economic survival but could focus actively on serving Swedes in Canada.

At the end of Pastor Frisk’s contract in 1996, Per-Olov Carvell came to our congregation with his wife Inga-Mai. During Pastor Carvell’s years, the congregation needed to find a new home due to rising costs and more limited access at the Danish Lutheran Church. An agreement was reached with Agricola Finnish Lutheran Church and our first service was held there in January 1998. It would have been difficult to find a better and more convenient space.

Pastor Carvell and Inga-Mai returned to Sweden in the summer of 1998. Shortly thereafter, SKUT decided to remove their support for a pastor, as well as withdraw other financial support to the congregation. This precipitated a crisis. In order to help the church adapt to the new circumstances, SKUT sent Gunnar Prytz to Toronto for one year. Following his arrival in September 1998, he began to develop plans for our transition which included services conducted by lay members.

Since the congregation was still large and the number of Swedes in the Toronto area was increasing, it was determined that the church should continue in spite of SKUT’s decision to withdraw support. The Church Council contacted Bishop Michael J. Pryse to seek advice which resulted in the Swedish Lutheran Church in Toronto being reaffirmed in the ELCIC, Eastern Synod. Bishop Pryse appointed Darren Dahl as Interim Pastor and he served our congregation until 2000. During Pastor Dahl’s time, the services were conducted primarily in Swedish by lay members, while the sermon and communion liturgy were conducted in English by Pastor Dahl.

Although the Swedish Lutheran Church in Toronto was no longer officially recognized and supported by SKUT, written agreements clearly stated an affiliation with SKUT. This agreement has been important for our church and its identity, since the congregation has been included on the SKUT website and benefits from SKUT mailings. Many Swedes who contact our church often do so through the SKUT website. The members of the congregation feel a strong affiliation with SKUT and wish to safeguard positive relations.

In January 2001, Markku Suokonautio, Pastor at Agricola Lutheran Church, offered to serve as Acting Pastor in our congregation. This maintained the pastor’s position, which was greatly appreciated by our members. Since Pastor Suokonautio spoke Swedish, the church could return to conducting services wholly in Swedish. This is very important, not only for individual congregation members, but also for the identity of the church itself as a Swedish congregation. During this time, the Church Council continued its search for a Swedish pastor, who could lead the congregation on a more stable basis.

Jan Janson and his wife Karin arrived from Sweden in 2003 to fill a part-time pastor’s position. During the Jansons’ years in Toronto, contact was made with a Anna and Anders Runesson, a young Swedish couple who had recently moved to Hamilton. Both were theologians who completed pastoral theological studies through distance education at Pastoralinstitutet in Lund. Following a period of paid instruction and mentorship with Pastor Janson, as well as close contact with the Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo, Ontario, Anna and Anders Runesson were ordained in June 2005 at Visby Cathedral by SKUT’s Bishop Lennart Koskinen. Anna Runesson assumed the duties of pastor for the Swedish Lutheran Church in September 2005 (60% position, now 100% position). Anders Runesson, who is professor of New Testament Studies and Early Jewry at McMaster University, volunteers his services to the congregation when Pastor Anna is unavailable. Anders also leads the congregation’s weekly Bible study group.