The Church Lofts
Centennial Methodist Church on Dovercourt: an 1891 church at the back of the lot and the larger neo-Gothic front building of 1906. From 1986 it was Centennial Japanese United Church, which closed in 2006; architect-developer Bernard Watt rebuilt the inside as 28 lofts by 2010.
History of The Church Lofts
Centennial Methodist built its first church here in 1891, set back on the lot. In 1906 the congregation added the neo-Gothic building on Dovercourt you see today, with stone trim, three Tudor-arched windows and square towers topped with pyramid steeples, pushed right up to the sidewalk. With the creation of the United Church of Canada in 1925 it became Centennial United Church.
In 1986 the Nisei congregation of the Toronto Japanese Church joined Centennial to form Centennial Japanese United Church. As members moved to the suburbs and the neighbourhood changed around it, the congregation shrank, and on January 8, 2006 it held its final service and sold the building, which the City had designated as heritage in 2004.
The buyer was Dovenco, the development company of the architect Bernard Watt, known for turning the old Creed fur warehouse into lofts, who acted as both developer and architect. The sloped floor built for the pews and the U-shaped balcony had to go: everything but the outer walls and roof was removed, a steel frame was built inside, and the lofts were built within it, with balconies and modern windows tucked into the Gothic nooks. The 28 lofts, from about 610 to 1,480 square feet, were ready in 2010 and keep exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, steel trusses and, in most units, the original stained glass.
The Church Lofts: quick facts
Where is The Church Lofts?
The Church Lofts is at 701 Dovercourt Road, Toronto, near Dovercourt & Bloor W, in Dufferin Grove.
When was The Church Lofts built, and what was it originally?
It was built in 1906. Centennial Methodist Church on Dovercourt: an 1891 church at the back of the lot and the larger neo-Gothic front building of 1906.
What kind of loft is The Church Lofts?
The Church Lofts is a church loft: a former church converted into homes.
How many units are in The Church Lofts?
The Church Lofts has 28 units.
Are there units for sale at The Church Lofts right now?
As of November 6, 2026, 0 units are for sale and 1 for lease.
What do units at The Church Lofts sell for?
Recent sales averaged about $1,122 per square foot, based on 2 sales in the past 8 months.
How many units have sold or leased at The Church Lofts recently?
In the past 2 years, 3 units have sold and 0 leased at The Church Lofts. Sold and leased prices are listed on this page.
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