Serie 86 - George Thorneloe correspondence

Third Bishop of Algoma; Second Metropolitan of Ontario (and Archbishop of Algoma).

George Thorneloe was born in Coventry, England in 1848, and was educated in Birkenhead, England, and Granby, Quebec. He attended the University of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Quebec, obtaining a B.A. in 1872. He was ordained deacon in 1874, and priest a year later. He was incumbent of Stanstead, Quebec from 1874 to 1885, and obtained an M.A. from the University of Bishop's College in 1877. He then became rector of Sherbrooke, Quebec, from 1885 to 1896. During this time, he was made a canon of Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Quebec, until 1896. From 1895 to 1896, he was clerical secretary of the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada. He was consecrated Bishop of Algoma in 1897, and married in 1898. He was an excellent governor of his diocese, travelling throughout to perform his duties to his people. His reputation was such that he was, in fact, nominated or even elected to multiple dioceses over the years, including Ontario, Ottawa, Toronto, and Nova Scotia (the latter two of which he was not elected). He declined both the Ontario and Ottawa elections, thought Ottawa caused some discomfort, as the synod refused to accept his decision and pressured him to accept. The House of Bishops, however, aided him in not allowing him to resign the See of Algoma, making it impossible for him to accept the See of Ottawa. He was eventually elected President of the House of Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario in 1915, the same year he became the Metropolitan of Ontario and Archbishop of Algoma. He resigned in 1926, and passed away in 1935 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.