RETIREMENTS
Bishop Townshend has accepted the request of the Reverend James (“Jim”) Innes to retire as Rector of St. John’s-by-the-Lake, Grand Bend (with the Worshipping Community of St. Anne’s, Port Franks), effective 31 December 2024.
Jim was ordained Deacon on 29 May 1988 and Priest on 30 November that same year. He has also served the parishes of Christ Church, Forest and St. John the Evangelist, Kettle Point; Trinity, Port Burwell and St. Luke’s Vienna; St. John’s, St. Thomas; and Trivitt Memorial, Exeter. Jim has also provided interim ministry at various times at Grace Church, Ilderton and St. George’s, Middlesex; New St. Paul’s, Woodstock; St. James’, Ingersoll; St. James’, St. Marys; and St. Peter’s, Dorchester.
We thank God for Jim’s ministry and wish him well in retirement.
Bishop Townshend has accepted the request of the Reverend Canon Dr Gordon Maitland to retire as Rector of St. John’s (Sandwich), Windsor, effective 31 March 2025. His last Sunday in the parish will be 2 March 2025.
Canon Gordon was ordained to the diaconate (3 June 1990) and the presbyterate (9 May 1991) in the Diocese of Niagara. He came on the strength of Huron in 1996 and has served the parishes of St John’s, Port Rowan (with St. William’s, St. William; Memorial Church, Port Ryerse, St. John (Woodhouse), Simcoe, Summer Church of St. Andrew’s, Turkey Point and Christ Church Chapel of Ease, Vittoria); the Collegiate Chapel of St. John the Evangelist (Huron College); Church of the Transfiguration, London; St. George’s (Walkerville), Windsor; and St. John’s (Sandwich), Windsor. In addition his many years as a member of the Doctrine and Worship Committee, Gordon has been a member of the Archives Committee, the Education for Ministry Dialogue, and represented the Diocese on the Trinity College Corporation. From 2008 to 2016 he was the Director Christian Studies at Canterbury College and, from 2016, represented Canterbury at the Ontario Provincial Commission on Theological Education (OPCOTE). He was a participant in the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation (IALC) from 1995 to 2001. Canon Gordon has been the National Chairman of the Prayer Book Society of Canada since 2011, in which role he will continue after his retirement. On 19 February 2023, he was named to the Chapter of Canons of the Cathedral as a Canon Catechist.
We give thanks to God for Canon Gordon’s ministry and wish him well in retirement.
Bishop Townshend has accepted the request of the Reverend Canon Robert Park to retire as Rector of St. Mark’s, Brantford, effective 31 December 2024.
Canon Rob joined the Diocese of Huron in 2022 from the Diocese of Niagara, where he served from his ordination to the diaconate and presbyterate in 1995. On 23 February 2023, he was named a Canon of the Cathedral in recognition of the dignity that he held in Niagara. We give thanks to God for Rob’s ministry with us and wish him well in retirement.
CONGRATULATIONS
Bishop Townshend extends congratulations and his episcopal blessing to the Reverend Canon William (“Bill”) Ward & Julie Vannoord who were married yesterday at St. John the Evangelist, London, where Bill is rector. The Reverend Matt Arguin officiated.
INDUCTION
On behalf of Bishop Townshend, the Venerable Jane Humphreys will induct the Reverend Steven Maki as the Rector of Holy Trinity-St. Paul’s, Chatham, on the Feast of the Reign of Christ, Sunday, 24 November 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Clergy are invited to vest, the colour being white.
DECONSECRATION
Bishop Townshend will preside at a service of Deconsecration for the church of St. Columba, Waterloo, 250 Lincoln Road, Waterloo, ON at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, 24 November 2024. Clergy are invited to vest, the colour being white. A reception will follow the service.
ORDINATION
Bishop Townshend announces that the following will be called to the Presbyterate at a service of Ordination to be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, the Commemoration of Clement of Alexandria, Priest, at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Church, Brantford.
Clergy are invited to vest, the colour being white.
- The Rev’d Leah Arvidsson, Curate of the Parish of Long Point Bay
- The Rev’d Barry Ferguson, Priest Assistant under the Direction of the Territorial Archdeacon of the North.
PWRDF COLLECTION
A collection was taken for the PWRDF at Synod and following that there were several more donations received. The new donation total is now $21, 057.85.