5 Best Churches in Toronto (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica holds relics of saints a few blocks from where St. James Cathedral's spire has marked the skyline since 1853; a short walk away, Metropolitan Community Church still hosts the congregation that performed some of the world's first legal same-sex marriages. Toronto's churches span centuries and traditions. Here's a respectful, data-grounded look at five of them.

Short answer: St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, seat of the Archdiocese of Toronto, holds the strongest public track record among the city's churches: a 4.9 rating across 2,517 Google reviews, the highest volume on this list. The Cathedral Church of St. James (4.7, 1,208 reviews) and Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (4.8, 999 reviews) follow closely behind. Entry is free at every church here.

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1. St. Michael's Cathedra…
2. The Cathedral Church o…
3. Metropolitan Community…
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Toronto's Churches Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica	4.9 ★	2,517	Overall, historic relics and Mass schedule	View ›
2	The Cathedral Church of St. James	4.7 ★	1,208	Architecture, organ, and history	View ›
3	Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto	4.8 ★	999	Inclusive community and concerts	View ›
4	St. Patrick's Catholic Church	4.8 ★	606	Downtown parish and outreach	View ›
5	St. Basil's Catholic Parish at the University of St. Michael's College	4.8 ★	376	Campus community and outreach meals	View ›

Five churches, closer up

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica

4.92,517 Google reviews

St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica serves as the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Toronto, seat of Cardinal Frank Leo, and holds holy relics of saints within its downtown sanctuary. The basilica runs an extensive weekday and Sunday Mass schedule, several times livestreamed, along with daily confession times and Eucharistic adoration.

What people praise

Stained-glass windows and soaring ceilings widely praised
Described as a peaceful refuge from downtown Toronto's pace
The relics collection noted as a distinctive draw
Welcoming to first-time visitors unfamiliar with Catholic services
Well-organized Mass and confession schedule

Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume2,517 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown90% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 2,517 reviews are the largest base on this list, and the 4.9 average holds firm across that volume, the clearest combination of scale and consistency here.

Website +1416-364-0234 Directions

65 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 0C2

#2🕑 Open 7 days

The Cathedral Church of St. James

4.71,208 Google reviews

The Cathedral Church of St. James serves as the cathedral seat for the Bishop of Toronto and traces its Anglican congregation back to 1797, making it the city's oldest. Its Gothic Revival building includes a spire rising roughly 305 feet, among the tallest church spires in Canada, and a pipe organ with more than 5,100 pipes that anchors regular organ recitals and choral services.

What people praise

Gothic Revival architecture and stained glass consistently praised
Organ recitals and acoustics singled out by music lovers
Peaceful gardens valued for a quiet moment downtown
Welcoming atmosphere for casual visitors and history enthusiasts

Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,208 · 93th

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: At 4.7 across 1,208 reviews, it ranks second here, a smaller base than St. Michael's but still a substantial, well-documented track record.

Website +1416-364-7865 Directions

106 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 2V8

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto

4.8999 Google reviews

Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto describes itself as rooted in Toronto's LGBTQ+ community, and made history in January 2001 when it married two same-sex couples using the ancient tradition of reading the banns, among the world's first legal same-sex weddings. Beyond Sunday worship, the church hosts community programs including a Men's Retreat, VIPkids children's ministry, and a monthly Transpirituality gathering, and its sanctuary regularly hosts Candlelight concert series.

What people praise

Candlelight concerts praised for atmosphere and acoustics
Space described as warm and intimate, especially under candlelight
Musicians and performers consistently well received
Valued as an inclusive community space beyond traditional worship alone

Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume999 · 88th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 999 reviews sit close behind St. James, with a stronger 4.8 average, reflecting both its concert programming and its standing in the community.

Website +1416-406-6228 Directions

115 Simpson Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1A1

#4🕑 Open 7 days

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

4.8606 Google reviews

St. Patrick's Catholic Church, also known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, serves downtown Toronto's Catholic community with a full weekday and weekend Mass schedule alongside outreach programs including a Street Patrol and an Out of the Cold program for people experiencing homelessness.

What people praise

Architecture and stained-glass windows praised, including by wedding photographers
Choir and Mass atmosphere described as calm and spiritual
Parish priest noted by name for his warmth
Valued as an accessible, welcoming first parish for newcomers to Canada

Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume606 · 83th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown88% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It shares the 4.8 average with Metropolitan Community Church on a smaller base of 606 reviews, still a well-regarded downtown parish.

Website +1416-598-3269 Directions

137 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 1W3

#5🕑 Open 7 days

St. Basil's Catholic Parish at the University of St. Michael's College

4.8376 Google reviews

St. Basil's Catholic Parish, administered by the Basilian Fathers on the University of St. Michael's College campus, offers a full weekend and weekday Mass schedule alongside an outreach meals program that serves lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays and a Thursday snack. The parish also runs community events for students, including weekend sports on the campus green.

What people praise

Described as peaceful and welcoming by visitors exploring different parishes
Priests praised for warmth during Mass
Valued by university students, with a healthy turnout of young attendees
Outreach meal program noted as a meaningful community service

Reputation scorecardrank in Toronto

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume376 · 78th

Confidencehigh

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Its 376 reviews are the smallest base among the 4.8-rated churches here, so we rank it fifth on proven volume even as its rating matches the churches above it.

Website +1416-926-7110 Directions

50 St Joseph St, Toronto, ON M5S 3L5

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How we ordered this list

We rank using two public Google metrics together: the average rating and the number of people who left one, weighted so a strong rating backed by thousands of reviews outranks a similar rating built on a few hundred. Recency matters too, whether people are still reviewing a church today. No church can pay to move up this list or change these numbers.

What visiting costs

Every church on this list welcomes visitors free of charge, whether for a service, a quiet visit, or simply to see the architecture. Some, like Metropolitan Community Church, host ticketed concert series separate from regular worship; those events carry their own pricing set by the promoter, not the church itself.

Churches across Toronto

All five churches sit within a short walk of each other in Toronto’s downtown core, clustered around Bond Street, King Street East, and the University of St. Michael’s College campus. Metropolitan Community Church sits slightly east in Riverdale. Wherever you’re starting from, a church near me in downtown Toronto is rarely more than a streetcar ride away.

What to know before you visit

What are the Mass or service times, and is there a livestream option?
Is there a dress code for visitors?
Can I take photos inside during a service, or only outside of it?
Is the church wheelchair accessible?
Are guided tours or organ recitals open to the public?
Do I need to register for confession, weddings, or other sacraments?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. The order reflects public Google ratings and review volume only. A church can never pay to move up this list or change another church’s score.

How did you choose these churches?

We compared every church in Toronto with a substantial public review history, then ranked them by rating weighted against review volume.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in July 2026, and we revisit it as ratings and review counts change.

Can I visit without attending a service?

Yes. Most of these churches, including St. Michael’s and St. James, welcome quiet visits outside of service times.

Is there an admission fee?

No. Entry is free at every church on this list; donations toward upkeep are voluntary.

The bottom line

St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica is the safest starting point: it’s the most reviewed, centrally located, and holds a genuinely rare collection of relics. If you’re drawn to history and architecture over Catholic Mass specifically, St. James Cathedral’s Gothic Revival building and organ recitals are worth the visit. Check each church’s posted schedule before you go, since Mass and event times shift with the season.

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