History of our Parish

The history of Precious Blood Parish can be traced back to 1932, when Francis Patrick O’Connor, a successful Canadian businessman and philanthropist, played a central role in establishing the parish.

Francis O’Connor, together with his wife Mary Ellen Hayes, was associated with the Laura Secord Candy Company, which grew from modest beginnings into a major Canadian business and later expanded into the United States under the name Fanny Farmer Candy Stores. O’Connor was known for his generosity and concern for his employees and community. During the Great Depression, he made a substantial donation of $500,000 to the Archdiocese of Toronto.

1932: The beginning of Precious Blood Parish

In 1932, O’Connor purchased a small Methodist church that was no longer in use, located near the intersection of Victoria Park Avenue and Lawrence Avenue.

Following renovations, the former Methodist church was rededicated as a Roman Catholic church. O’Connor made one special request: that the new Catholic church be named Precious Blood.

This marked the beginning of what would become Precious Blood Parish.

1954: The church is rebuilt

As the Catholic community continued to grow, the original church building was eventually replaced.

In 1954, the church was rebuilt, creating the structure that forms the basis of the present-day Precious Blood church at 1737 Lawrence Avenue East. The architectural record for the building also identifies 1954 as the year completed.

Thus, the parish has an interesting distinction: its parish roots go back to 1932, while the present church building dates from 1954.

2007: 75th anniversary

The year 2007 was particularly significant for Precious Blood Parish. Parishioners and the Archdiocese of Toronto celebrated:

• 75 years since the founding of the parish in 1932
• 50 years since the parish's physical “rebirth”, referring to the rebuilding of the church

The parish's own history describes 2007 as a special year in which the community remembered and celebrated its beginnings.

2022: 90th anniversary

The parish subsequently celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2022. A June 2022 parish bulletin specifically announced that Precious Blood was celebrating 90 years as a parish. That means the parish has now passed another important milestone: 94 years since its founding in 1932.