St. Augustine’s Seminary reaches the century mark, 2013.   Photo: Jeremy Hopkin.

On August 28, 2013, St. Augustine’s Catholic Seminary enters its 100th year of operation in Scarborough. To highlight this occasion, we look back to a newspaper article written by Rick Schofield, Scarborough’s Archivist.

1913 Catholic Seminary has world influence
St. Augustine’s first institution of higher learning

Richard Schofield: Scarborough’s Heritage
(Originally published in The Toronto Star, July 9, 1979)

“High above Lake Ontario near the edge of the Scarborough Bluffs stands the first institution of higher education to be built in the borough. It is not only historically important but also architecturally significant and thus has been recommended for designation under the terms of the Ontario Heritage Act.

A dedication notice for St. Augustine’s Seminary, 1913. -c/o Toronto Star.

St. Augustine’s Seminary was begun in 1910 and was one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in Toronto. The idea for the seminary for English-speaking Catholics was actually conceived in 1890 but it was not until Eugene O’Keefe gave his financial support that the dream became a reality. His generosity was heralded across the country and when the building was completed in 1913, it was the pride of Catholics across Canada.

Although the building has been open to the public on only three or four occasions in its 70-year history, its influence has been felt around the world. Although most of its graduates have been channeled into Ontario, the United States and around the globe.

During its early history, the seminary received the right to confer its own Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree and in 1938 was permitted to enroll some seminarians for arts degrees at the University of Toronto.

The military-style discipline ensures that seminarians act as ecclesiastical students at all times and the courses offered are not likely to appeal to the average university-oriented student. Latin, canon law, dogmatic, ascetic, moral and pastoral theology; scriptures, church history, sacred liturgy, ethics, languages and English literature all form part of the students program. Despite the concentration on studies and prayer, the seminary provides a wide variety of recreational activities and its library is thought to be one of the finest of its type in North America.

Early fundraising advertisement for St. Augustine’s Seminary, which highlights the role that O’Keefe played. – c/o Toronto Star.

Not disturbed by the heavy traffic along nearby Kingston Rd. and the new subdivisions and apartments that have sprung up in the area, St. Augustine’s has maintained its original 130-acre site with only a few minor alterations. Chine Drive Public School, St. Theresa’s Shrine Separate School and the Scarboro’ Foreign Mission Society all occupy small parcels of land adjacent to St. Augustine’s.

The main building was designed by architect A.W. Holmes and has been described as an educational-ecclesiastical building resembling the Ecole des Beaux-Arts style in France with some Italianate detailing. The bold dome, columned portico and beautifully proportioned windows are hallmarks of the classical style. The dome, especially, draws attention to the building and it’s almost impossible to drive along the Kingston Rd. without noticing this impressive building.”

*Editor’s notes:

1. The Seminary was purposely dedicated on August 28 to honour the death date of St. Augustine of Hippo, who lived from November 13, 354 – August 28, 430.
St. Augustine was an early Christian theologian whose writings are considered very influential in the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy.
He was bishop of Hippo Regius (present-day Annaba, Algeria) located in the Roman province of Africa.

2. As its project to mark the centennial of St. Augustine’s Seminary, the Priests’ Alumni Association was entrusted with the restoration of the Seminary windows, 16 in total. Fundraising for the project began in 2009, restoration work began in July of 2013.
The restoration will not only bring the appearance of the building back to its original state, but will also greatly improve energy efficiency. Deterioration was visible both in the windows themselves and in the frames which enclose them. The original frames and sills, constructed in 1913, were weathered, dry rotted and entombed in sheet metal; a futile attempt to extend the life of the windows.