1 Bishop Alexander Neil Bethune

Alexander Bethune – son of the renowned Presbyterian clergyman John Bethune – was born in Charlottenburg, Upper Canada in 1800. During his youth, Bethune studied under John Strachan first in Cornwall, then in York, where he assisted Strachan with services at St. James’ Cathedral. Bethune was ordained a priest of the Church of England in 1824 and given charge of St. Andrew’s Parish at The Forty (Grimsby). Three years later, he was relocated to St. Peter’s Church, Cobourg, where he served as rector until 1867. Although a congenial, peace-loving man, Bethune was a central figure in numerous public conflicts, controversies and debates. He and his mentor John Strachan were identified with the Anglo-Catholic movement at a time when many members of the Church of England in present-day Ontario were moving toward low church evangelicalism. As editor of the church newspaper from 1837-41, Bethune became embroiled in several public debates with Methodist newspaperman Egerton Ryerson – primarily regarding clergy reserves and the privileged position of the Church of England in Upper Canadian society. After Strachan’s death, Bethune was elected the second Bishop of Toronto. He spent much of his episcopate attempting to restrain the low church movement and to unify his divided flock. He died in 1879.

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