SWAN, WILLIAM H. (1880-1967)

SWAN, WILLIAM H., United Church minister, Doaktown, 1938-41; b. Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, c1880, s/o Andrew Swan and Elizabeth Drummond White; m. 1st, Florence Elizabeth MacKenzie, and 2nd, 1930, Jean Spurr Clark, d/o the Rev. John Arthur Clark; d. Saint John, 31 Jan 1967.

William H. Swan, who came to Canada in 1912, attended McGill University for three years and trained for the ministry at the Presbyterian College in Montreal. Ordained in 1919, he pursued his entire ministerial career in New Brunswick. Before being called to Doaktown in 1938, he was the minister at St Martins for twelve years. In 1939, while he was occupying the pulpit at Doaktown, the sixtieth anniversary of St Thomas United Church was observed.

After he left the Miramichi in 1941, Swan served at Hillsborough for a brief period. He then did supply work before retiring in 1947. Throughout his ministry, he enjoyed working with young people, both in the church and in sports and other activities. He was also identified with the work of charitable organizations. He served a term as president of the New Brunswick Red Cross Society and was a delegate to the World Sunday School Convention in Oslo, Norway, in 1936.

In retirement, Swan lived successively at Petitcodiac, Sackville, and Saint John. He was survived in 1967 by his second wife, Jean Spurr Clark, and a daughter of his first marriage.