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Provincial Archives of New Brunswick

Dictionary of Miramichi Biography

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FORSYTH, DAVID (1845-1933)

FORSYTH, DAVID, Anglican rector, Chatham, 1873-1930; b. Londonderry, Kings Co., N.B., 27 Oct 1845, s/o David Forsyth Sr and Elizabeth Nethery; unmarried; d. Chatham, 23 Jan 1933.

The son of parents who came to New Brunswick from Co. Tyrone, Ireland, and made their home on a farm near Sussex, David Forsyth was educated locally, at the Collegiate School in Fredericton, and at the University of New Brunswick (BA 1872). He was trained for the Anglican priesthood at King's College, Windsor, which subsequently conferred an MA (1910) and an honorary DCL (1918) on him.

Forsyth was made a deacon in 1873 and named to succeed the Rev. W. Sterling Neales at Chatham. After he was ordained a priest in 1874 he was appointed rector. Later he also filled the largely honorary offices of canon of Christ Church Cathedral (1889-1902), archdeacon of Saint John (1902-08), and archdeacon of Chatham (1908-33). He took a keen interest in the maintenance of the churches and was the "chief architect" of an extensive rebuilding of St Mary's Chapel in 1895 which transformed it into one of the most beautiful churches in the province. He retired as rector in 1930 but remained archdeacon, with the title of "Venerable," until his death.

"An energetic, forceful giant," and a bachelor whose whole life revolved about his ministry, Forsyth dominated the Anglican parish of Chatham for fifty-seven years. His role in the larger Miramichi community was not nearly as great. His name seldom appeared in the press, and his death at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Chatham less than three years after his retirement was all but ignored.

Sources

[b] Who's Who 1914 [d] church records / Advance 8 Aug 1895; Advocate 1 Oct 1930; Can. Album; Francis research; Kings County Record 26 Jan 1933; Spray (DK)


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