Plaques of Toronto Necropolis Cemetery

i just wanted to highlight some of the plaques that are erected in the cemetery.

This cemetery, comprising 18.25 acres, was opened to replace the Potter's Field which was located on the north-west corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets. Potter's Field, the first non-sectarian burying ground in the then town of 'Muddy York', consisted of 2.5 ha and was purchased in 1825 for the sum of 'seventy-five pounds currency' ($300.00). The first interment in the Necropolis took place on May 22, 1850. Within these ground are buried many of those originally interred in Potter's Field including citizens in every walk of life and some who occupied positions of eminence in the city. The present chapel, lodge, and porte-cochère were built in 1872 at a cost of $8,632.00. The crematorium, the first in Ontario, was opened in 1933. By December 31, 1969, 42,360 interments had been made in this Toronto Necropolis. In the grounds are numerous interesting memorials and many unusual species of trees and shrubs.

The chapel at the Toronto Necropolis, together with adjoining entry pavilion and superintendent's office and residence, constitute one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Canada. The unique composition of buildings was designed by architect Henry Langley in 1872. The chapel, whose arch is the most prominent decorative feature, has a distinctly Gothic motif, including the large arched stained glass window lighting the nave and the arched rose window of stained glass lighting the sanctuary and chancel. An unique aspect of the chapel's architecture is the placement of the bell tower at the rear, over the sacristy, a sensible design for funeral processions entering through the porch and passing through the large nave to the chancel and finally through the sacristy to the cemetery grounds. Henry Langley, a Toronto architect, was noted for his use of Gothic Revival style in churches. He died in 1906 at the age of seventy, and was buried in the Toronto Necropolis (Section O, Lot 255).

In this area of the cemetery lie buried many of the inhabitants of the early town of "Muddy York". They were originally buried in "The Potters Field", a plot of six acres in Yorkville at what is now the north-west corner of Bloor and Yonge Streets, during the period 1826 to 1850. As a cemetery it was obliged to close because of steady municipal growth. The remains of 984 persons were removed to this location and 364 other were removed to Mount Pleasant Cemetery between the years 1851 and 1881. The individual monuments were also moved, but being made of soft stone, most of them became illegible from erosion and have been laid flat on the plots. Requiescat in pace.

The resting place of early Presbyterian settlers. They were originally buried in the Presbyterian Burying grounds at Richmond and Sherbourne Streets, between 1818 and 1841. Due to the steady expansion of the city, the cemetery was closed, and the remains of 263 persons were removed to this location in 1911 and 1912. Although few of those now buried here are indentified, family records indicate that several members of William Lyon Mackenzie's family, including three of his children, are interred in this lot. Requiescat in pace.