History of Springdale Church, Toronto
Springdale Church which has been located on Merritt Road, Toronto since 1948, had its origins elsewhere.
In 1936, William Partridge, a Spiritualist, conceived the idea of setting up a Spiritualist co-operative on similar lines to that of the Lily Dale Community in Upstate New York. It was located on the shore of the North Muskoka River between High Falls and Duck Chute, North of Bracebridge off Highway 117. Land became available and was subsequently purchased, and in order to help finance the purchase, lots were offered for sale at $25 each with the first being sold in December 1937. A name had to be submitted to the government when a charter was being requested. The name Springdale Park was settled upon since the property was full of springs and the North Muskoka River ran through a dale. The charter was granted on July 21st, 1938.
William Partridge, and others, then opened a Spiritualist church in Toronto in 1939. It was located in rented space in a Baptist Church at 194 Broadview Avenue (now a Gospel church). Eventually in 1946, the church organization was moved to the present quarters on Merritt Road in a building which was originally used by the Scouts’ Association. A charter was applied for, but the name had to be different from the Springdale Park Association; so when the incorporation was granted on January 2nd, 1946, the name of Springdale Church, Toronto, was adopted. Although the Springdale Park Community did not develop as fully as hoped, workers from Springdale Church, Toronto regularly went to Muskoka to help in the summer activities.
There have been three pastors at Springdale:
- 1946 - 1974 William C. Partridge,
- 1974 - 1993 Ruth A. Dyke
- 1993 - Present Doreen Bauld
The Reverend Doreen Bauld was ordained in 1990, and was granted the right to perform marriages, naming services and funerals by the Ontario government.
Ordination rites were granted to the church in March 1997.
Springdale Church is a registered charitable organization. (# 12057 0338 RR0001)