The Rev. Canon H. A. (Harry) Sims (b. 1881 February 8) was an Anglican priest who served in the Diocese of Algoma. He was born in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, the oldest of four sons of a Royal Navy shipwright. He lived briefly on Ascension Island as a child before apprenticing for seven years as a moulder in the UK. Sims joined the Anglican Church Army in 1903 and married Annie Herridge on 1907 August 26. At the invitation of Bishop Thorneloe, the Sims enlisted to work for the Anglican Church in Canada in 1908, where H. A. Sims was appointed Stipendiary Lay Reader on Manitoulin Island where he also worked partly with local First Nations people. From 1908 to 1911, Sims acted in this capacity, living in a log cabin while studying for examinations to qualify him as a clergyman. He was made Deacon in 1911 and ordained Priest in June 1912 by Thorneloe. Sims was made a Canon in 1941. He served in New Liskeard in 1914, Cobalt 1915-1921, St. Paul's (Thunder Bay) 1921-1926, St. John's (North Bay) 1927-1937, Kirkland Lake 1937-1947, and Chapleau 1947-1950. His postings in Cobalt and Kirkland Lake in particular corresponded to the periods of their largest populations due to mining. H. A. Sims retired in Chapleau in 1950. Mrs. Sims passed in 1944.
Sims was active throughout his ministry and retirement inside and outside of the Church. He was a Public School Trustee in Cobalt, Fort William (now Thunder Bay), and North Bay. He organized Boy Scout troops in New Liskeard, Fort William, North Bay, Kirkland Lake, and Chapleau. He received the first Gilwell Badge (a recognition for service in Scouting) recipient in Ontario. He became a member of the Sons of England in 1915, a mason in Cobalt in 1919, a Kiwanian in Fort William, and a Rotarian in North Bay.
He served for many years on the Executive of the Diocese of Algoma, and on many of the committees of the Anglican Church of Canada.
H. A. Sims passed away at New Liskeard on 1974 February 23.
Photograph: "Veteran Priest Still Serving", The Algoma Anglican 15, no. 1 (1971): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_007_001.
