Who We Are.
Located in the heart of Toronto’s west end, Bloor Central is a Christian church that celebrates the diversity of our community. We are a Church where everyone is welcome to join us as we try to live out our faith in Jesus.
What We Believe.
Bloor Central is a part of the Salvation Army, a denomination in the universal Christian Church. Our core beliefs are laid out by the eleven Salvation Army Doctrines below.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.
We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.
We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
Our History.
Bloor Central is a Salvation Army Christian church located in the Bloorcourt Village neighbourhood of Toronto. Opened in 1969 as the result of three congregations amalgamating, the Church and the neighbourhood have gone through many changes. Through each season of Bloor Centrals history there have been different expressions of our love for God and our city.
Our Staff
Majors Doug and Karen and their 5 children
Doug and Karen Hammond
Majors Doug and Karen Hammond have been the pastors of Bloor Central since 2006. After serving as Salvation Army officers in South Africa for 13 years they moved to Toronto with their 5 kids and fell in love with the Bloorcourt Community. They love God, their family and their neighbourhood.
Greg serving a Christmas meal.
Greg Peterson
Having grown up in the Salvation Army, Greg has been involved in and seen many different expressions of “church,” including helping plant a church in the inner city. He’s been a member of the Bloor Central congregation since 2004, and previously worked for Family Services before going back to school and now Greg is back officially, as Community Ministries Coordinator. Both creative as well as detail oriented, Greg tries to meet people and situations with an open perspective. A jack of all trades, he can usually be seen somewhere around the building, helping in any way that’s needed at the moment.
Catherine with Client.
Catherine Groulx
Good Food for the Soul is where it all starts for Catherine, our Food Coordinator. She has been a part of the Bloor Central team since 2018 meeting the needs of the community in practical ways, via the Community Food Centre and Community Meal, as well as through prayer ministry. As an avid foodie, aspiring cook, and a deep love for Jesus, she values creating and distributing healthy food as a tangible demonstration of the love of Christ.