Toronto's Cathedral Church of St. James will become a Canadian pioneer with the webcasting of an Easter Day Eucharist on April 16 from 10.45 a.m.

Stuart Mann, communications director for the Anglican Diocese of Toronto says many who wish to attend an Easter Sunday service "are unable to do so for a variety of reasons."

He said the webcast will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for several weeks on the diocese website, www.toronto.anglican.ca .

The Toronto church has been a place of worship

since 1797. Its full set of 12 change-ringing bells, the only one in North America, and pictures of the cathedral's daily life will be featured.

Its choirs, especially the choir of men and boys under the direction of Michael Bloss, are internationally famous. Online viewers will be able to access the prayers and readings and to record comments in a visitors' book.

Trinity Church in New York City and San Francisco's Grace Cathedral have provided similar access to their liturgies on the Internet for the past few years.