8 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN APRIL 2021 APRIL 2021 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 9 M Y J O U R N E Y H E R E M Y J O U R N E Y H E R E

In yet another God moment, the ad was never supposed to have been published in the British magazine. It was for a post in Canada: principal of Church Army college. On his own, the British chief secretary had slipped the ad in his paper. David and Janet flew to Toronto in the fall of 1997 to attend the national conference of Church Army. David had the interview and got the job. They went home and prepared for a temporary move to Canada in the spring. Before accepting the job, David visited Church House in London and sought advice on leaving the UK and david edwards the Church of England. How long was too long? When should they return? He was told that three to five years is considered good experience. Be- yond that, you’re out of the loop. “So I came for three years,” he said. BY GISELE MCKNIGHT years later. Janet was prepared for that. Even “I felt I was surrounded by a big his parents were prepared to let their He is the Most Rev. David Edwards, ball of light,” he said. “That was my only child go for three years. But a bishop of the Diocese of Fredericton; conversion experience. Was it God? great deal took place in those three and Metropolitan of the Province of No question.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP years. Canada, which comes with the title of He never went back to the camera LEFT: Janet & David at a The college was moving to Saint archbishop. club, but the experience of that day Threshhold Ministries John, and the first job was to facilitate (formerly Church But he’d really rather be known as has lasted a lifetime. MCKNIGHT FILE PHOTOS that. There was a lot of work to do — David. “I never really waivered,” he said. Army) event in Saint from scratch, really. How he got to New Brunswick is a “Whenever I think ‘are we just doing John in 2016; Debbie “If Janet hadn’t been there, nothing winding story of God’s hand on his life something that doesn’t make sense?’ I and David on their would have happened!” said David, that began in 1960. David was born at always go back to that incident. If God wedding day in 2020; giving his late wife a great deal of the Wolverhampton Women’s Hospital was real then, he’s real now.” David in the UK in credit for the success that saw the col- at 10:30 in the evening. His father did two photos; David and lege open in September 1998 with four not turn up until the next evening. UNIVERSITY Janet early on in their students. “He worked all day. That’s how they At 16, David was introduced to marriage. “Ultimately, by 2001, we had about did it back then,” said David, adding evangelism, and those who know him 20 students,” he said. that his father still lives in the house would say it still burns deeply within By then they had a faculty of four: David was brought home to as an him. George Eves, Reed Fleming, Janet infant. “I went on a beach mission with and himself, plus adjuncts like former David is an only child, born to Jack Church Army,” he said, adding from parish development officer Dr. Ken and Doreen who were in their 30s. then on, he volunteered, got to know Neilson. Current PDO Shawn Branch His father spent most of his career as Church Army officers and was heavily was a student there in 2001. a caster in an iron foundry, though he involved. That’s where he met Janet, But his three years was up. Stay or served in the Royal Air Force near the his wife of 37 years. go home? end of the war, and in the post-war At 18, David moved out of his fam- During those three years, David period in India and Singapore. ily home to attend university, earning had immersed himself in the deanery. His mother learned to drive in the a combined honours degree in English He had been providing Holy Com- Land Army, an organization of women and history. In 1981 he and Janet got munion at St. James on Broad Street. who worked the farms while the men married, and he attended Cambridge Then in 2000, Bishop Bill Hockin were at war. She’s 95 now, suffering University for a post-graduate certifi- asked him to help look after Stone from dementia, living in a nursing cate in Education. By 1982, he was a Church in uptown Saint John during SUBMITTED PHOTOS home. Jack is 92, and visits her twice a teacher. a vacancy. day, every day. But did he really want to be a By 2001, his time limit, “I had a teacher? sense of a call to Stone. I even talked CHILDHOOD “I wanted to be a lawyer,” he said. to Bill about it. But I really didn’t think David’s father didn’t go to church. His “God wanted me to be a teacher. I was “There’s no question that if I’d been ate diocesan evangelist in the Diocese ‘That’s not going to happen,’ was know what he’s saying.’” I should leave Church Army at that mother went occasionally. very convinced of that. I thought I’d be selected for ordained ministry then, of Chelmsford until 1992, when he David’s response. That argument went VACATION In retrospect, God was saying, point.” “I was sent to Sunday school every a Church Army officer.” no matter how good or how bad I am was given a promotion as the bishop’s on for a couple of years. “In 1992, almost on a whim, Janet and ‘you’ll be back.’ Bishop Bill offered him the post. Sunday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.,” he In his early 20s, he submitted an now, had I been ordained then, I’d advisor in evangelism. Finally, a friend convinced him to I came to North America for vaca- It was in 1997 that an ad in Church They worked out the division of time said. application for ordained ministry. have been a terrible priest.” During those years he worked part- take it seriously. He wasn’t convinced, tion,” said David. “We got the last two Army’s British magazine would bring between the college and the church. He joined youth group as a teen- “I felt fairly confident that I was time on a Masters degree in applied put up roadblocks and made excuses, seats on the aircraft.” David back. Then in 2005, he left the college and ager, but it was a simple prayer in his called to Church Army ministry, but CAREER theology at the University of Kent at until the last one was worked through. They flew to Boston, unprepared became the full-time rector at Stone. community’s library that changed the I wanted to test the ordination track,” So both he and Janet taught school Canterbury. He was ordained a deacon Sept. 24, for the vastness of the North Ameri- CANADA “I couldn’t have wished for a bet- course of his life. he said, adding that many, including and volunteered with Church Army. At the same time, he was told his 1995. can continent. Undeterred, they The ad listed the perfect description of ter parish,” he said. “They are Godly David, 15, had joined the camera his home rector, had suggested he Then in 1986, he was selected to move bishop wanted him to take a job in “I’d come to terms with it by then,” rented a car and got an AAA route David Edwards: lay or ordained, expe- people. But by 2011, somehow I knew club, which had a membership of consider ordination. from volunteer to officer, which meant the diocese that required ordination. he said, adding he retained his Church plan to visit Niagara Falls, almost 500 rience in education, at least a Master’s I was leaving. I sensed that the Stone three. His first meeting was in the But the answer was a resounding leaving his teaching career. After the ‘I can’t, I’m not ordained’ was his Army commission. miles away. degree in theology, experience in journey was coming to an end.” library, and one of them suggested no. You have not suffered enough, three-year training program at the answer. He was assigned to the Parish of “I stood at Niagara Falls and said Church Army. He took the job of parish develop- they begin with a prayer — a prayer they said. Church Army college in Blackheath, ‘Now you know what the bishop is High Ongar with Norton Mandeville to Janet, ‘I’ve got a funny feeling about “I was one of a few people in the that continues to guide David some 45 “They were right,” said David. London, he was assigned as the associ- saying to you,’ was the reply. as the priest-in-charge. this. God is trying to talk but I don’t world who had that,” said David. My Journey Here continued on page 10

“SHARING HOPE & HELP” 10 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN APRIL 2021 S H R O V E T U E S D A Y

While COVID-19 prevented us from hosting our Pancake supper delivery annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, it was decided that, as part of the ministry of the Pasto- ral Care Team, we should do something to reach a success in Woodstock out to those who have been shut in. It was only possible because of the dedicated team of cooks and drivers who provided a pan- cake supper to shut-ins from our congregation. Shrove Tuesday was a stormy day, so the pancake preparation and deliveries were postponed until Wednesday and were then delivered to grateful recipients. A huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers: In the kitchen — Ann & Jon Tait, Jean Colli- cott, and Nancy English. Delivery drivers — Pat & Blair Whitehouse, Andrew Brown, Barb Belyea, Don Niles, Lynne Slipp, Marilyn Sherman, Richard Dennique and Jon Tait. Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness!” In the photo: Ann Tait, Jean Collicott, and Nancy English. Photo by Jon Tait. MISSION IN MOTION: community

My Journey Here — David Edwards

My Journey Here continued she accepted it.” have been able to spend time from page 9 Janet fell ill in late October, together. We’ve had the op- 2018. She was taken to the hos- portunity to work on being ment officer until 2014, when pital that night by ambulance, married. We’ve discovered we he was elected bishop. and within four hours, tests are compatible, and we are revealed what doctors believed developing family life.” BISHOP DAVID was inoperable cancer. This sort of family life is “Nobody ever wants to be It was sudden and shocking, quite new for David. As an bishop,” he said. “I was willing and the news was devastating. only child with no children, to do whatever God called me She died two weeks later. becoming a step-dad and step- to do, but I recognized this “I’ve always said the way grandad has been a change, would be a very difficult task.” Janet died was how a Christian but a welcome one. In preparation for a deci- should die,” said David. “It “It’s good. We were over at sion, he went through 10 made a profound impact on Christy and Josh’s yesterday,” weeks of discernment, includ- me. I’m not sure I could have he said. “It’s good to play with ing a spiritual director and a been so matter-of-fact about it. the children. Getting to know retreat, to come to the point “She cried at times, but she them. Grace and Isaiah are MCKNIGHT FILE PHOTO of letting his name stand. On was never angry. She accepted very sweet children. the day of the election, “I was that this was the next stage for “It’s fascinating to watch surprised, but at peace.” her. the kids grow, watch how they In 2020, he was asked to “I was never angry either, work things out. The things ABOVE, THEN BISHOP serve as an archbishop of the but very sad, and I continue they say and do. Yes, I enjoy it.” DAVID during the Anglican Church, but what to be sad. You don’t spend 40 Even so, David is feeling the 2019 Ash Wednesday would life have been like had years of your life with someone pandemic-imposed distance service at Christ he never come to Canada? and not miss them. from his parents and he misses Church Cathedral; At “If I’d stayed where I was, “We were able to talk about home. As soon as travel is per- left, David on Sept. 9, I’m pretty sure I’d have been our lives together and resolve mitted, he will plan on a trip to 1986 on his first day a parish priest for the last 30 anything that was unsaid.” the UK. at the Wilson Carlile years and that would have “Dad always operates on the College of Evangelism been fine. I’ve always enjoyed COVID & THE basis of ‘do what you’re going (Church Army) in parish ministry.” PRESENT DAY to do’ but he’d like me to be Blackheath, London. David and Debbie (Collicott) home.” JANET were married only a couple of On the journey that has led Janet always hoped to return to months before COVID-19 put him to New Brunswick, he the UK. Even so, she was hap- a stop to so much of normal can’t point to any regrets. SUBMITTED PHOTO py to come to Canada because life. Usually David would have “Was it worth it? Of course the plan was not permanent. been on the road most days it was,” he said. “God led us “But she was always open of the week and every Sunday. here. We’ve sought to follow to the leading of God and she Instead, he’s been home for the will of God as best we can had a sense that God was lead- much of the pandemic. — Janet and I, Debbie and I — ing us,” said David. “Was she “The blessing of COVID-19 and we still do that.” always happy with it? No, but has been that Debbie and I

“SHARING HOPE & HELP”