1940 - 1965
- had been rector for seven years at Saint Philip's, Dunbar in Vancouver when invited to come to be rector of Saint John's.
- having served in the First World War, he suffered the scarring effects of mustard gas which affected his health but not his commitment, humour, and the out-going spirit for which he quickly became known in the congregation and wider Victoria community.
- developed a reputation for inviting returned veterans, visitors, out-of-town students - anyone and everyone - to become part of Saint John's worship and activities.
- attracted many young adults to Sunday evening worship with refreshments and fellowship in the rectory. All were greeted with a friendly smile, interested questioning, some consoling words and a drawing closer into the fellowship of the “Older Young Peoples' Group”.
- joined most of the service clubs which existed at the time and apparently made his influence felt as he was invited often to speak at special occasions and events of various kinds.
- towards the end of the Second World War he began speaking of a war memorial to be built when peace was achieved. Interest in the building of the parish hall was revived and after a four year fundraising campaign, Memorial Hall was completed in 1950.
- spent most of a year in hospital after collapsing during an Easter Day baptism in 1946. Extensive treatment and rehabilitation for the mustard gas injuries.
- managed parish affairs from his hospital bed dictating correspondence and issuing instructions to the wardens and committee members. Much extra responsibility was shouldered by his wife, Ethel, who took on parish responsibilities which were already hers but, being a school teacher, took over her husband's teaching of Scripture at both Glenlyon and Saint Margaret's schools.
- believed that, for efficiency and manageable governance, the Church Committee should be a small number of men drawn from business and administrative positions. Ethel Biddle sat in as recording secretary. Church committee's attention was given to finances and maintenance of the church fabric - including repairs to the organ, a leaky roof, and wind damage to the church spire - as well as oversight of the building of the parish hall.
- was awakened in the pre-dawn of December 8, 1960 by fire caused by an electrical fault and the flames of which, as he opened the door, had engulfed the building. After calling the fire department, he entered the building and managed to save the silver communion vessels, the coronation memorial altar hangings and other precious items.
- is pictured in what must surely be the saddest newspaper photograph in the Archives with the fire chief watching the flames consume the beloved sanctuary and nave completely gutting the church's interior.
- received the community's shock and sympathy as, throughout the city, people expressed their sadness that such a significant landmark should be destroyed.
- conducted all services of worship in the Memorial Hall and led the congregation in looking to the reconstruction of Saint John's whose spire and concrete walls and shell remained.
- received financial contributions from past and present members of the congregation and well-wishers in the wider community which, added to the insurance coverage of much of the damage, enabled the reconstruction and helped with the replacement costs of some stained glass windows and other memorials. Gradually the interior of the building was restored. It was later, in the time of Grahame Baker's incumbency that a large number of new stained glass windows were added, and in the time of Robert MacRae's incumbency that the carved reredos replaced the brocade curtain that had covered the sanctuary wall where the original reredos had been.
- rejoiced with the congregation when the Bishop visited the parish in October 1961 and officiated at the joyful re-dedication of the restored building.
- welcomed the assistance and help of assisting clergy and curates including John Macdonald, Colin Campbell, Kenneth King, and John Sandys-Wunsch. Honourary clergy from previous years continued to provide assistance and among them Canon Tom Scott (father of Dorothy Sullivan and Archbishop Ted Scott) who is remembered as the Chaplain to the Anglican Young People's Association.
- ministered in guiding the life of the congregation for another four years before announcing his retirement. He was in his seventy-first year and had been rector of the Church of Saint John the Divine for twenty-five years. John Sandys-Wunsch, the young curate who had served with him continued to minister in the parish awaiting the appointment of a new rector.
- retired to the Ten Mile Point area, worshipping at nearby Saint George's, Cadboro Bay and enjoyed retirement life with family and friends until his death in August, 1970.