St. Peter's Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto
EELK Toronto Peetri Kogudus
History
When one's life has been in jeopardy and turmoil, and one finds oneself in a strange and foreign land, it is upwards towards the heavens that one looks for guidance and strength. Such was the case of the Estonian immigrants fleeing their homeland during WWII.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
274 Concord Avenue, Toronto
Completed in 1929, St. John's is located in Palmerston - Little Italy
Archive photo.
Some of the first immigrants had arrived early in Canada. In 1947, there were approximately 70 Estonians living in the Toronto area. They had formed the Estonian National Club (Eesti Rahvuslik Klubi - changed in 1950 to Eesti Selts Torontos). It was in St. John's church, on Concord Avenue, that the club held its weekly meetings.
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Estonian Language Services
Ernest Hahn was the pastor of St. John's and took note of the small group of immigrants gathering strength from one another in the new and foreign land. Pastor Hahn was enthusiastic about offering religious services to this group of immigrants in their mother tongue. Since there were no Estonian ministers in Canada, Pastor Hahn contacted Pastor Rudolf Kiviranna in New York asking for assistance in organizing a new Estonian congregation. Pastor Hahn also contacted the Ontario District of the Missouri synod for financial assistance for the fledgling congregation.
The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto (Eesti Evangeelne Luteriusu Kogudus Torontos) was formally established on August 3rd, 1948, in the hall of St. John’s Church. The name was changed in 1954 to include “St. Peter’s”. The first Estonian church service was held at St. John’s on the 29th of August, 1948, by visiting Pastor Kiviranna with 170 Estonians in attendance. A second service was held five weeks later by Pastor Puhm, who became the congregation’s official pastor in October of 1948.
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The congregation used St. John's Church for the next seven years, but as waves of immigrants arrived, the rooms of St. John's became more and more crowded as the congregation grew by leaps and bounds. It was obvious that St. Peter's congregation needed their own church. The decision was made September 24th, 1951, to begin fund raising for our own home.

Future site of St. Peter's church.

Corner of Roehampton & Mt. Pleasant.

Corner lot.

Future site of St. Peter's church.
By February 1953, a lot on the corner of Roehampton Avenue and Mt. Pleasant in Toronto had been purchased by the funds raised and a loan from the Missouri Synod. Estonian architect Mihkel Bach designed the sanctuary. Archive photos.

The design for the church is presented.

Architect Mihkel Bach presents his design. on February 7th, 1954.

The modern design is approved by the congregation.

The design for the church is presented.
![]() Church construction begins. | ![]() Pouring the foundation. | ![]() Roof beams are erected. |
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![]() Leeds construction heads the project. | ![]() Roof cross beams are installed prior to the copper sheathing. |
The church building was completed within 10 months in 1955, albeit without some of the planned structures such as the cross tower. Archive photos.
![]() 1955 -The blessing of the church cornerstone. | ![]() 1955 - Crowds gather for the church blessing. | ![]() 1955 Guest pastors setting the cornerstone. |
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![]() 1955 Konsul J.E. Markus. | ![]() 1955 - Guest pastors placing cornerstone. | ![]() 1955 - Pastor Oskar Puhm. |
![]() The congregation's Pastor Puhm blessing the cornerstone and building. |
Church Cornerstone
The following proclamation, written in parchment in both Estonian and English was placed into the cornerstone:
"St. Peter's Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto was founded on August 3, 1948, by Estonian immigrants who were forced to leave their homeland to escape the godless and tyrannical regime. Faith and democratic principles were the only possessions many could take with them. Through countless difficulties and hardships, through many lands and countries, these Estonians began to arrive in Canada in 1944 to start a new life. As a result of the horrible work of the enemies of the Christian faith, thousands of our people have been deported to Siberia and there have died of starvation and inhumane treatment. These enemies have pressed our native Estonia under the yoke of Bolshevist slavery. Bitter experience has made this well known to those who were able to escape and has given us the strength to hold high the banner of faith.
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Our St. Peter's Church has been built to the glory of God and is a memorial of our escape to a free country. This church is being erected in memory of the thousands of Estonians who have died in World Wars, the Wars of Liberation, and the dangerous escape. This temple of the Lord shall be our spiritual home where the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall resound. It shall be a place where we pray for heavenly blessing for those who are heavy-laden and those who are in bondage. It is a place where we shall pray for true peace and the deliverance of all oppressed.
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Our deepest goes to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, especially the Ontario District, Department of Missions and Church Extension, which from the beginning has reached out its brotherly helping hand and whose assistance has made this church a reality."

Dean Valter Viks opened the doors for congregation members, and blessed the newly-built church on September 25th, 1955. To accommodate everyone, there were three separate services, for a total of 2,500 attendees, including new congregation members and guests.
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Archive photo: The blessing of the church on September 25th, 1955.

Pastor Oskar Puhm wrote in 1958 that although the new church held 500 people, there have been as many as over a thousand in attendance during holiday services. Church halls were used by many organizations including Sunday School, the Estonian Supplementary School, Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation classes, scouts and guides. St. Peter’s Church became known as a beehive of activity including celebrations, concerts, meetings, displays, coffee gatherings, and seminars. Records show that in 1958 the congregation had grown to approximately 4000 members. The birthrate of members exceeded deaths by seven-fold. Archive photos.

Confirmation 1957.
"Our own
congregation and church."
Pastor Puhm wrote in 1958:
“It is with gladness in our hearts, that here on foreign soil we have been able to establish our own congregation and church in our mother-tongue. Stretching toward the heavens, this building is not only a religious temple, but also a national building – where all which is familiar, holy and dear to us, we may teach and inherit to our children.
“Rõõmustame südamest, et ka võõral pinnal oleme võinud rajada oma emakeelse koguduse ja kiriku. See taeva poole sirutuv hoone pole mitte üksi usuline tempel, vaid ka rahvuslik koda – kus me tohime kõike, mis meile on omane, püha ja kallis õpetada ja pärandada oma lastele.”
As soon as the initial project was completed, plans immediately began to complete the architect's vision and those items that had to be postponed due to finances. By the summer of 1961, the small basement hall was completed, along with the foundation of the cross tower. By the summer of 1970, the Ladies Guild room addition and cross tower were constructed based on M. Bach's original plan and Ants Elken's addition design. Archive photos.


In 1975, the final building phase was completed based again on Ants Elken's vision, as the sanctuary was extended by seven feet, the unfinished stained glass window replaced with brick, a new altar formed, and the organ was placed upon the balcony as had been originally envisioned.
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Construction in 2012 included adding a lift from the front foyer to the basement, adding office space to the small basement hall, updated south stairwell, entending the side door foyer. The "giving free" was created to memorialize donations towards this project. Photos Tiiu Roiser
After noticing chunks of fallen wood on the ground, it was discovered that our cross had deteriorated to a point that it had to be removed. The wooden cross had been first erected in 1970, and the weather had taken its toll. In October of 2018, the cross is lowered and its condition is evident.
Fotos: Dean Mart Salumäe
![]() Last view of the cross before removal, 2018. | ![]() Removal crane is set up. | ![]() Work crew at the cross. |
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![]() The cross is gently lowered. | ![]() Lowering to the ground. | ![]() A safe landing. |
![]() Years of damage. |
When Pastor Puhm retired in 1982, then Reverend Andres Taul became the new pastor. Dean Mart Salumäe, who had arrived in 2011 as the assistant pastor, became the congregation's full-time pastor upon Archbishop emeritus Andres Taul's retirement in 2016, On June 25th, 2023, Reverend Salumäe retired from the service of St. Peter's to return to his homeland.
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During the peak decades of activity, hundreds of congregants have been baptized, confirmed and married in our church. In recent years, however, funerals outnumber more happy events by far, and these new, complicated times are compelling us to reimagine and reorganize our mission to serve God.
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Sources:
Church Archives
Eesti Evangeeliumi-Luteri Usu Peetri Kogudus Torontos 1948-1958
Elu 1998 - Peetri koguduse 560. juubeliaasta väljaane.
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