[2] Designed in the Gothic Revival style by Gordon & Helliwell and built in 1899,[3] the building was initially the Church of the Covenant.

[5] Under his leadership, the new independent congregation grew until Templeton went into debt to pay for the construction of a balcony to accommodate their larger numbers.

In the mid-1970s, the growing congregation left the downtown area to found the Bayview Glen Church in Thornhill, Ontario.

During the congregation's move, there was controversy[dubious – discuss] surrounding the sale of the church building to a buyer who represented a Hare Krishna group.

[6] After the demolition permit was denied, it has since become Canada's largest Hare Krishna place of worship.