Hills, George

First Bishop of British Columbia.

George Hills was born in Kent, England in 1816, and attended the University of Durham, obtaining a B.A. in 1836 and an M.A. in 1838. He was ordained deacon, then priest, in 1840, and became the curate of North Shields, Northumberland until 1841, then of Leeds Parish Church until 1845. He was perpetual curate of St. Mary's in Leeds, then became Vicar of Great Dartmouth, Norfolk in 1848. He remained there for eleven years, during which time he also became an honourary canon of Norwich Cathedral. He built a new church, and ensured his clergy were regularly trained. He was consecrated Bishop of British Columbia in 1859, a post he held until 1892. While Bishop, he travelled throughout his diocese and established secondary schools and residential schools. He married Maria Philadelphia Louisa King in 1865. His wife passed away in 1888, and Hills resigned in 1892, returning to England and becoming Rector of Parham in 1894. He passed away in 1895. He was granted one honourary degree, a D.D. from the University of Durham in 1858.