Ann Preston “Holy Ann” Toronto’s heavenly saint
On My Walk with Holy Ann
On a quiet walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, with my glass cross in hand, I stumbled upon the grave of Ann Preston—better known simply as “Holy Ann.”
Born in Ireland in 1810, Ann emigrated to Canada in the 1830s, accompanying a physician’s family as their housekeeper. They settled in Thornhill, Ontario, where her story began to take root.
From a young age, Ann showed a remarkable devotion to the Christian faith. Although she never learned to read in the conventional sense, it’s said she could read the Holy Bible—and nothing else. A devout Methodist, Ann became known for her exuberant proclamations—“Praise the Lord!” and “Hallelujah!”—echoing through otherwise quiet church services. She could recite lengthy passages of scripture by heart, earning a reputation in the community as “odd,” but undeniably devoted.
One day, local children scrawled a cruel message in chalk outside her door:
“Holy Ann lives here. Go in and have a word.”
What began as mockery soon turned into legend-
Stories of miracles began to circulate. One particularly hot summer, when a nearby well had run dry, Holy Ann prayed through the night. By morning, two buckets of fresh water were drawn from the same well—to the astonishment of all. After that, many came seeking her healing prayers, hoping for miracles of their own.
When she passed away on June 21, 1906, at the age of 96, six clergy from various denominations attended her funeral. So did the Mayor of Toronto, Emerson Coatsworth Jr., who had just met with the President of the United States. He offered this tribute:
“This week I have two honours. I met with the President of the United States, and I participated in the funeral of Ann Preston. I prize the latter most.”
Known affectionately as “The Irish Saint,” Ann spent her final days in the home of a widow, Mrs. Nancy Pedlow, and was laid to rest in the Pedlow family plot in the old section of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Her headstone mistakenly notes she lived to be 100, but the truth of her life lies not in numbers—it lies in the faith she lived.
