PARKER, THOMAS (1882-1962)

PARKER, THOMAS, Anglican rector, Chatham, 1930-55; b. Bedminster (Bristol) England, 1 Nov 1882, s/o Thomas Parker Sr and Love Bright; m. 1st, 1916, - Ritchie, of Greenfield, Carleton Co., N.B., and 2nd, 1919, Laura M. Dimock, of Windsor, N.S.; d. Chatham, 6 Jun 1962.

The son of a coal miner, Thomas Parker immigrated to Canada as a youth and went to work on a farm at Florenceville, N.B. At the same time, he continued his education through private study, and in 1909 enrolled in King's College, Windsor. He was granted a BA in 1913, made a deacon of the Anglican church in 1914, and ordained a priest in 1915.

Parker was missionary of Cambridge and Waterborough for a few months and then rector of Norton from the fall of 1915 until 1926. While stationed there he satisfied the requirements for a second degree from King's (MA 1918). Between 1926 and 1930 he was rector of Kingsclear, N.B. He was appointed rector of Chatham in 1930 and archdeacon in 1932, with the title of "Venerable." In the same year, he was made a canon of Christ Church Cathedral.

Parker was elected from the deanery of Kingston to the board of governors of King's College in 1919, and he occupied the seat until 1931. He also sat from 1934 to 1943 as representative of the alumni. In 1939 the college conferred an honorary DCL on him.

During more than a quarter century at Chatham, Parker proved himself to be a success as a pastor, if not especially as a leader or builder. He resigned due to failing health in 1955. In 1957 he was appointed an honorary archdeacon. His second wife, Laura M. Dimock, predeceased him by one year. When he died in 1962, at age seventy-nine, his only named survivor was a daughter.