The decline in church attendance, paired with urban intensification and rising land values, has left many Toronto churches struggling to sustain their presence and purpose. Once central to community life, these institutions now face challenges of relevance, accessibility, and financial viability.

This thesis explores how the church can regain value through its capacity to serve the community. It examines how architectural form, height, and programmatic layering can transform the church into both a sacred and civic space, creating new opportunities for engagement and collective belonging within the modern city.

Ultimately, the research proposes that the future of the church lies in its public contribution: by embracing verticality, openness, and multifunctional use, the church can reclaim its role as a spiritual and social anchor within Toronto’s evolving skyline.