Oxenden, Ashton

Second Bishop of Montreal; Second Metropolitan of Canada.

Ashton Oxenden was born in Barnham, Canterbury, England. He obtained a B.A. from Oxford University in 1831, and was ordained deacon in 1832 at Lambeth Palace Chapel, then priest in 1833. He was curate of Barham, Kent, England from 1832 to 1838. In 1838, his clerical duties were suspended due to poor health. In 1847, he was able to return to work, and became curate of Silsoe, Bedfordshire, England, then in 1848, he became rector of Pluckley, with Pevington, Kent, England, where he remained until 1869. He received an M.A. from Oxford in 1859, and married Sarah Bradshaw in 1864. He was consecrated Bishop of Montreal in 1869, and received an honourary D.D. from Oxford. He also received an honourary D.D. from University of Bishop's College, Lennoxville, Quebec in 1871. He also wrote My First Year in Canada to raise funds for the diocese. He resigned as Bishop in 1878, and became Chaplain of Christ Church in Cannes, France until 1879. He then returned to England to become Vicar in Hackington, Kent until 1885. From 1885 onward, he lived in England for four months of the year, and then in Biarritz, France for the rest of time. He assisted the chaplain there, and published lectures as the Barham Tracts and the Pluckley Tracts. In all, he published 116 pamphlets, and wrote The History of My Life in 1891. These writings were popular and sold very well. He passed away in 1892 in Biarritz, France.