1868 - 1914
- while a curate in poverty stricken area of Saint Paul's, Westminster Road, London, was inspired by meeting Bishop Hills who shared his vision of spreading the gospel in British Columbia.
- acted immediately in encouraging groups and individuals to financially support the building of a large room to accommodate the children's Sunday School rather than their having to meet in the nave of the church.
- continued to use his gift for fundraising as financial stability returned to the colony and the church's financial position remained healthy until a crisis occurred with the deterioration of the sills upon which the Iron Church had been built. His fundraising and the teas, bazaars, and fairs organized by the women made possible a new and much improved foundation eliminating deterioration and drainage problems.
- an avid horticulturalist with an interest in science and astronomy brought illustrations from Creation into his sermons as well as an enhancement of church and rectory landscaping.
- being a skilled woodworker, he worked with others in adding features to the darkly wooded interior of the church - a new reredos, an oak and cherry wood pulpit, new prayer desks etc.
- became a stimulus of controversy in the church and community as he articulated rigid opinions on some issues of morality including criticism of women's appearance and improper dress, of press sensationalism, and of the casual disregard for the moral upbringing of children.
- disagreed with the Bishop's desire to establish a synod of clergy and lay representatives in the diocese and refused to participate or to have representatives from Saint John's participate. The synod was incorporated in 1889 but it was not until 1911 that Saint John's finally sent representatives to participate in its deliberations together with members of other parishes.