Thanks to both this site and Eesti Elu many in our community are aware that as of February 18th anyone with concerns regarding the proposed closing of the St. Peter’s columbarium was given 45 days to submit such to the Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act at 16 Wellesley Street West suite 1600, Toronto Ontario, M7A 1C1. E-mail The submission must reference the applicant: St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto Columbarium.
The undersigned is not a member of St. Peter’s congregation. Yet has a strong connection to the church, has for decades. Growing up in the neighbourhood the church was a bastion of Estonian culture for a young lad. Estonian Scouting was the first step. Later folk dancing, singing in the St. Peter’s youth choir “Lootus”. Later singing with the church choir “Cantate Domino”, Both choirs conducted by Rosemarie Lindau, part of the draw for her dedication and enthusiasm. The adult choir practiced in the evening in the church basement as did the Estonia choir.
When offspring entered the life responsibility equation, they were taken to the wonderful pre-school Wednesday morning day-care. The glee with which the toddlers shouted supitädid!, the reference being to the wonderful soup that Anu Randmaa and her team offered to the children is firmly in a father’s memory bank. Anu and the “aunties” offered sustenance for the soul as well by teaching Christian values and fair play, all this while being willing to change diapers for those averse to toilet training. These ladies were true gems, assets to the church and community. Alas, such a program is no longer offered, just as Sunday School is not. Where is the congregation going to get new and active members from today? It is seen in scouting at present.
Of note is information that was recently received. A local group intending to rent space from the church for a pre-school nursery, five days a week, for a short period of time (six months) found it difficult to reach the church decision makers. Thus the congregation lost out on a source of income. And there are other such alternatives to keep the building viable in the neighbourhood.
St. Peter’s was for decades a community centre as well as a place to gather for worship and Christian education through programs for the young, up until and including the essential confirmation ritual that grants youth full membership in the congregation. And Bible Study was offered, apparently no longer in any form other than by individual meetings with the minister. The group format is much more educating, allowing for joint dynamics to blossom in the search for meaning.
Letters were purportedly sent to all those whose loved ones are interred in the consecrated columbarium wall. Treated as a cemetery this is the reason why the board of directors of St. Peter’s must approach the community. The undersigned has seen a copy of the letter. Straight forward, stating that an agreement has been reached with York Cemetery to accept the cremated remains interred at the St. Peter’s columbarium. York Cemetery has three locations where Estonians have been interred including a columbarium wall. It is unknown whether that wall will accommodate the transfer or whether a new one is being proposed.
Of concern is that not all descendants have received this letter. I am aware of at least one person, whose parents were laid to eternal rest at 817 Mt. Pleasant who has not received this letter yet. These lines were written on March 8th, eighteen days after the issuance of the letter. Surely Canada Post is not to blame for the delay? It must also be asked – have the trustees at St. Peter’s tracked down the descendants of every one interred in the columbarium? The undersigned is aware of a childless couple resting there. There may be more.
What do we as a community know about the history of the columbarium? It was first built as a decorative barrier wall, the open courtyard was also gated. This due mainly to the fact that a large High School is across the street from the church. Teenagers being teenagers they did not always stick to school grounds, often sat on the wall. Which became a problem when it was decided to transform the wall into a columbarium. The school leadership was informed; no longer is it a problem. Until the recent importation of people temporarily experiencing homelessness, housed in the defunct high-rise hotel across the street. The board of directors used the fact that those people desecrated the sanctuary with used needles and much more nasty remnants as a part of the argument used to sway the congregation in favour of voting for the closing of the columbarium.
When did the conversion from barrier to columbarium take place? After some telephone detective work, a 97-year-old, former member of the St. Peter’s board of directors (for seventeen years) was found. The individual has a clear memory of the time. At the instigation of Rev. Gustav Piir, born in the USA, raised in Vancouver, who served as a minister for the Toronto congregation in the late 1980’s the columbarium idea was accepted. Rev. Oskar Puhm, who mentored Rev. Piir, before the latter moved to Estonia, where he is presently the minister of Püha Vaimu (Holy Ghost) Church in Tallinn, supported the idea to the extent that his earthly remains are interred in the columbarium. (See Väino Einola’s article here at EWR).
It is also curious that the present minister of St. Peter’s, Dean Mart Salumäe delivered a speech this year in Estonia at a Lutheran ministers conference in Tartu, “Tervist”, held January 24-25 at the beautiful Jaani (St. John’s) Kirik. (See http://www.eestikirik.ee/tervi... for an informative editorial as well as articles on the conference) According to a Facebook posting by Bishop Tiit Salumäe Dean Salumäe advised churches there of the dangers of building a columbarium. Using St. Peter’s specifically as an example.
Dean Salumäe was also a candidate in the recent Estonian government elections, garnering 86 votes in the process for the Social Democratic Party. Perhaps in January he might have been campaigning in his Järva- and Viljandimaa riding as well.
Dean Salumäe comes from a family of clergy. As does Rev. Gustav Piir. Rev. Piir’s background is remarkable for the number of clergymen in his family tree, including his father Rev. Helmut Piir, who served Vancouver’s St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran congregation. The elder Piir also became Dean in Canada, serving from 1973-1976, up until his death. The undersigned had a few interesting theological discussions with Rev. Gustav Piir when he still served in Toronto, his belief and investment in the Lutheran faith was not to be questioned.
Faith cannot be taught. Nor imposed from above. It needs to be nurtured, best from a young age and from below as per E.E.L.K., a church of the people, or rahvakirik. St. Peter’s church, complete with columbarium is an integral part of our community. Not only for its unique architectural and historical value, the acoustics that make it a beautiful place to sing but also as a place that Estonians and their families of all ages can gather for various cultural events.
One need not be a member of St. Peter’s to be heard through written submission to the Registrar as above of the importance of the building for our community. Do consider the value of making the effort in the interest of keeping our community alive and vibrant with a home beyond its religious and architectural, historical significance.
TÕNU NAELAPEA
Tõnu Naelapea: More on the columbarium
Eestlased Kanadas | 08 Mar 2023 | EWR
Eestlased Kanadas
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