The Most Reverend Dr George Thorneloe was an eminent Canadian Anglican priest at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Born in Coventry on 4 October 1848 and educated at Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, he was ordained in 1874. He was the third Bishop of Algoma.
He was a missionary at Stanstead in Quebec Province until 1885 when he became Rector of St Peter, Sherbrooke. His work in the Eastern Townships of Quebec was recognized by his being made a Canon of Trinity Cathedral, Quebec, and in 1896 he was given the D.C.L degree honoris causa by Bishop's University. In 1896 he was elected Bishop of Algoma and in 1915 he also became Metropolitan of Ontario.
He attended three Lambeth conferences during his long episcopate - those of 1897,1908, and 1920. He also visited England on several other occasions to make appeals for money and support of the work in Algoma.
His work was recognized by a number of institutions: in 1896 Bishop's University granted him the degree of D.D. jure dignitatus, in 1898 Tirnity College honored him with the D.C.I. degree honoris causa, and in 1920 he received the degree of D.D. honoris cauda from Oxford University, England.
In 1925 his health began to fail and Thorneloe resigned as Metropolitan of Ontario on June 15, 1926. Right Rev. Rocksborough R. Smith was made co-adjutor Bishop for Algoma during the Synod meeting of 1926. Thorneloe resigned as Bishop of Algoma on the 30th anniversary of his consecration, the feast of Epiphany, in 1927.
He died in his 88th year on 3 August 1935. After services in St. Luke's Pro-Cathedral he was buried beside his wife in Malvern Cemetery, Lennoxville.
Thorneloe College, Sudbury was named after him. A village in rural Ontario is also named after him.
Sources:
- "Thorneloe's Long Ministry For Algoma", The Algoma Anglican 9, no. 10 (1965): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-86_001_003_010.
- "Thorneloe will remain a symbol of the true ideal of sound learning", The Algoma Anglican 9, no. 10 (1965): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-86_001_003_010.
Photographs:
- Top Right: Photograph of Thorneloe from Colloton, F.W. The Church in Algoma, A Souvenir of the Diocesan Jubilee, 1923, p. 66. Part of 2009-081/001 (013)
- Left: Photograph of dedication of Thorneloe College, 1965. From The Algoma Anglican 9, no. 11 (1965): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-86_001_003_011.
