Series 80 - John Strachan records

First Bishop of Toronto.

John Strachan was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1778. He obtained an M.A. from University and King's College in Aberdeen in 1797, and was ordained deacon in 1803 in Quebec. He was ordained priest in 1804, and was a missionary with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Cornwall, Ontario from 1803 to 1812. He married Ann Wood McGill in 1807, and was granted an honourary D.D. from University and King's College in 1811. He was Rector of York, Ontario from 1812 to 1846. During this time, he was also a member of the executive council of Upper Canada in Toronto (1813 to 1836); a member of Legislative Council of Upper Canada in Toronto (1818 to 1840); Chairman of the Upper Canada Clergy Corporation (1819); President of the General Board of Education in Upper Canada (1822 - 1833); the Archdeacon of York (1825 to 1846); and President of King's College, Toronto (1827 to 1849). He received an honourary LL.D. from St. Andrew's University in St. Andrew's, and was consecrated Bishop of Toronto in 1839. He established the Diocesan Theological School in Cobourg to train clergyman in 1842, as well as the Church Society that same year. He passed away in 1867.

During his life, Strachan wrote and published extensively, including:

A concise introduction to practical arithmetic; for the use of schools (Montreal, 1809)

A discourse on the character of King George the Third, addressed to the inhabitants of British America (1810)

A sermon, on the death of the Rev. John Stuart, D.D., preached at Kingston, 25th August, 1811 (1811)

A sermon, preached at York before the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, August 2nd, 1812 (1812)

A letter to the ... Earl of Selkirk ... (London, 1816)

An appeal to the friends of religion and literature, in behalf of the University of Upper Canada (1827)

Canada church establishment: copy of a letter addressed to R. J. Wilmot Horton . .. respecting the state of the church in that province (1827) (also published as an appendix in U.C., House of Assembly, Journal, 1828)

A letter to the Rev. Thomas Chalmers ... on the life and character of ... Dr. Hobart, bishop of New-York ... (New York, 1832)

Journal of the visitation of the diocese of Toronto (Upper Canada) in the summer of 1840 (1841)

The petition of John, by divine permission bishop of Toronto, to the honourable the Legislative Assembly of Canada, April 13th, 1849 (1849)

Pastoral letter to the clergy and laity of the diocese of Toronto (1850)

An address to the members of the Church of England,from the bishop of Toronto, in behalf of the Upper Canada Church University (1850)

Church university of Upper Canada: pastoral letter from the lord bishop of Toronto to the clergy and laity of the diocese of Toronto (1850)

Pastoral letter to the clergy and laity of the diocese of Toronto, on the subject of the university ... (1850)

The report of the bishop of Toronto, to the Most Hon. the Duke of Newcastle, her majesty's secretary of state for the colonies, on the subject of the colonial church (1853)

A pastoral letter to the laity of the diocese of Toronto (1861)