Bishop Douglas Albert Ford.Bishop Douglas Albert Ford, who stressed ecumenism as diocesan bishop of Saskatoon, died Jan. 23 at the age of 89. When he was consecrated bishop in 1970, "it was the after-math of Vatican II and (Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the main leader of the Church of England and by convention is also recognised as head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current archbishop is Rowan Williams. ) Michael Ramsey's visit to Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI (Latin: Paulus PP. VI; Italian: Paolo VI), born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini (September 26, 1897 – August 6, 1978), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 1963 to 1978. ," recalled Archbishop Michael Peers, former primate of the Anglican Church of Canada The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (referred to in older documents as the Primate of All Canada) is elected by the General Synod of the Church from among a list of five bishops nominated by the House of Bishops. , in an interview. Bishop Ford was instrumental in starting a twice-yearly meeting of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in Saskatchewan, noted Archbishop Peers, who was a colleague of Bishop Ford in Saskatchewan, having served from 1977 to 1986 as bishop of Qu'Appelle, based in Regina. Bishop Ford was the first chair of the Saskatoon Council of Churches and strongly supported union with the United Church of Canada United Church of Canada, Protestant denomination formed in 1925 by the union of the Methodist, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches in Canada. A large number of Presbyterian congregations, however, remain outside the union. , a move that failed in 1975. Born in Vancouver, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1939 from the University of British Columbia Locations Vancouver The Vancouver campus is located at Point Grey, a twenty-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. It is near several beaches and has views of the North Shore mountains. The 7. and a licentiate in theology from Anglican Theological College of British Columbia in 1941. Ordained a priest in 1942, he served two parishes in the Vancouver-based diocese of New Westminster before moving to the diocese of Calgary in 1944. In Calgary, he served parishes at Strathmore, Okotoks, Vermillion and Lethbridge. In 1966, he became dean of Saskatoon and rector of the cathedral of St. John the Evangelist The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of which the Most Reverend Timothy Dolan is now Archbishop. . When he was elected bishop, in 1970, he succeeded "a very dominant character," Bishop Stanley Steer, noted Archbishop Peers. "(Bishop Ford) was a very easy-going and unthreatening person," said the former primate. "His need for personal gratification and outward splendor was not strong. He was a people person and fundamentally a parish priest." Bishop Ford retired from the episcopate in 1981. He returned to parish ministry in the Calgary suburb of Cochrane, leaving that ministry in 1985. In retirement, he acted as priest-in-charge when parishes had vacancies and assisted the diocesan bishop in confirmations and other functions. He was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree by Emmanuel College, Saskatoon. He is survived by Doris, his wife of 62 years; two sons and a daughter; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Jan. 27 at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer is located in the city centre of Calgary, Alberta. It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese of Calgary. The original Church of the Redeemer, a wood frame building erected just east of the present site, was completed and opened for worship , Calgary. |
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