Parish History
The late James Charles Cardinal McGuigan , at that time Archbishop of Toronto, founded a new parish in Agincourt on Sept. 19, 1956, placing it under the protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He appointed Rev.Thomas Harding, a tall, young, redhead to minister to an estimated 400 Catholic families living in Agincourt and the surrounding communities of Milliken, Todmorden, Lamoureux, Malvern and O’Sullivan.
Father Harding’s first duty in this area of wide fields and new homes was to find a place to celebrate mass. His problem was temporarily solved when W.C. Sparkhall, owner of the Tam O’Shanter Golf Club, graciously offered the use of that organization’s clubhouse rent free.
Every Sunday there were more visitors. Soon three masses were required to care for the parish needs. Father Harding sought and gained the assistance of an old friend, Rev. Bernard Mahoney a professor at St. Augustine’s Seminary.
The need for larger quarters became increasingly apparent. The parish home was moved to the Agincourt Community Hall. The location was larger, but as one parishioner recalls, “The chairs were really hard, had steel legs and the floor was concrete – every time someone moved on their chair it made a loud screech! But it was warm and we started to feel we belonged – that it was our parish.”
A real church was still the goal and Father Harding started a fund-raising campaign in March 1957. The initial target was $75,000 with the final building’s cost expected to be $200,000.
The months that followed were filled with activity – the names of parishioners were obtained by door-to-door canvassing. Groups from more than 100 volunteers travelled from house to house obtaining money and pledges. In addition, an elaborate phone campaign was conducted to solicit more money.
When the first financial target was met only weeks later, the next step was hiring an architect. Jean M. Petrucci was chosen and structural planning got under way. The church was to be modern Gothic in design and would seat approximately 600.
Construction of Holy Spirit Church, at its present location on Sheppard Avenue between Warden Avenue and Birchmount Road, began on July 4, 1956 and was completed in December 1957 when Father Harding moved into the rectory.
On a personal note, Rev. Harding's father was named Dave. According to the story, Tom so resembled his parent, that he was nicknamed Dave and his parishioners often referred to him as Father Dave. Father Harding died peacefully in hospital Feb. 26, 2005 in his 87th year.
Wooden plaques listing Donors of Pews and Memorial Donors were placed on the church’s entry hall walls
The memorial list (left) is on the right hand wall and the pew donors list is on the left wall.
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An addition in the late 1980s, was a program initiated by the pastor at the time, the late Rev. Joseph D. Driscoll, to position stained glass windows under each of the Stations of The Cross in the body of the church. Donors names are on the installations.
Illustrated above is the window below the Eighth Station.
