VEN. ARCHDEACON NATHANIEL IRWIN PERRY

PROFOUND SHOCK CAUSED BY SUDDEN PASSING OF VEN. ARCHDEACON PERRY

Beloved Rector of Holy Trinity Church Succumbs While Paying Christmas Day Visit at Home of Son in Newmarket- Had Conducted Three Services Here in Morning and Appeared in Good Spirits-Funeral Services in Welland Monday Afternoon

[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 26 December 1931]

About to partake of Christmas dinner shortly after seven o’clock last night at Newmarket, Ont., Nathaniel Irwin Perry, M.A., D.D., venerable archdeacon of the counties of Lincoln and Welland, and rector of Holy Trinity church, Welland, collapsed and died in the home of his son, Ronald Perry. Dr. D.H. Guy was hastily summoned, but could only pronounce life extinct on arrival.

Funeral Here Monday

At noon today, in telephone communication with The Tribune, Ronald Perry, son of the archdeacon, stated the funeral would be held from Welland on Monday afternoon, with service at Holy Trinity church at 1.30. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant cemetery, Toronto. It is expected that the body will be brought to Holy Trinity church from Newmarket on Monday morning.

While arrangements for the funeral had not been completed at press time today, it is expected that Rt. Rev. Derwyn T. Owen, lord bishop of Niagara, will officiate.

His lordship was informed of the archdeacon’s death by E. Cardwell, people’s warden, last night and was deeply grieved at the sad intimation. The bishop said he would arrange for services to be held in Holy Trinity church on Sunday.

Mr. Cardwell is in Toronto today, completing arrangements for the funeral.

Causes Profound Shock

The staggering news of the sudden passing of the archdeacon, dean of Welland clergymen, and a noted figure in Anglican church circles, was received in the homes of church officials and parishioners in Welland last night with profound shock. First in Welland to learn of the sad affair was Hon. Richard Harcourt, K.C., who was informed by telephone by Ronald Perry. The news stunned Mr. Harcourt, as the archdeacon had been his guest at breakfast yesterday morning and had appeared to be in fine spirits.

For half and hour last night, between 9 o’clock and 9.30 the bell at Holy Trinity church sounded the sad tones of the death toll, and grief and sorrow made their way into the homes of many parishioners when the news of their beloved rector was conveyed.

While it was known the archdeacon, who was in his 65^th year, was afflicted with heart trouble, yet there was no indication yesterday that the end was so close at hand. The Welland rector was the celebrant at three Holy Communion services at 7, 8, and 10 o’clock, and left for Toronto by train at 11.15 to join his sons and spend the remainder of Christmas day with them. At the church here before leaving he was in a happy frame of mind and it was evident to many close friends that he was looking forward to the reunion with his sons with great eagerness and anticipation.

The last person to see him alive in Welland, was Ervin Cardwell, people’s warden of Holy Trinity church, who motored the archdeacon to the railroad depot. The archdeacon was met in Toronto by his son, Carl, and they lunched together before leaving for Newmarket, where they were to join the other son, Ronald, for Christmas dinner.

Dies Almost Immediately

It was just as the three were about to take their seats sat at the dinner table when the Welland rector was stricken. He passed away almost immediately.

Hon, Mr. Harcourt, friend and neighbor of the rector, was staggered and grief stricken at the news of the tragedy and last night told a Tribune representative that the archdeacon had seemed bright and happy at the breakfast table. “He was lively and looking forward to the visit with his sons very much. The news of his passing is a staggering shock,” Mr. Harcourt stated. The fact that a great friend of Archdeacon Perry, the late Rev. W. Archer, rural dean and rector, of Stamford, had been called only a few months ago in similar manner was feelingly referred to by Mr. Harocurt.

It is said that the prospect of being present with Nick Kozub, December 30, when the execution of the Beaverboard man is scheduled to take place, had caused the archdeacon considerable worry. The Welland rector had been acting as spiritual adviser to Kozub at the request of Greek Orthodox church authorities.

One of the archdeacon’s last acts of kindness in Welland took place Thursday evening when he visited the governor of the Welland county jail, Colonel Donald Sharpe, and left with him a specially prepared Christmas pudding to be given to the condemned man.

The Archdeacon had been in failing health for a number of years and only last Spring collapsed in a street in St. Catharines. He was rushed to hospital, where he remained critically ill for several days. He returned to his parish however, several weeks later after making good recovery. About four years ago he was forced to give up church activities for several months and seek rest in a New York state health resort.

The late rector came to Welland 12 years ago and since that time has accomplished noble works in the large parish here. His chief interest lay in the boys and girls, not only of his own church, but all over the city and for years he was superintendent of Holy Trinity Sunday school, the largest organization of its kind in the city.

Always striving to obtain better accommodation for the Sunday school scholars, Archdeacon Perry worked hard to secure a new Guild hall and largely through his efforts the present fine structure was erected. He served on the Welland board of education and was the first president of the Canal Ministerial Association, formed last year.

Beloved By Parishioners

He was beloved by his parishioners and citizens generally and his preaching always contained a strong evangelical strain. He was kind, sympathetic and always ready to aid those in distress. The rectory was a calling place where many persons in straightened circumstances looked for aid and not in vain.

One of the proudest moments in Archdeacon Perry’s career was on October 5, last, when the honorary degree of doctor of divinity was concurred upon him by his Alma mater, Wycliffe College, Toronto. This degree, rarely conferred, was a fitting reward to a splendid record of service to the church by one of Wycliffe’s sons.

Only last week, the archdeacon was happy in the role of chairman at the ceremony in which the mortgage on Holy Trinity church was reduced to ashes.

Advice Much Sought

Archdeacon Perry’s advice in diocesan affairs was much sought and he was an intimate friend of His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Derwyn T. Owen, bishop of Niagara. The archdeacon was chairman of several diocesan committees and for many years was a member of the executive council. When the late Bishop Clark died, the archdeacon was prominently mentioned as a possible successor.

The archdeacon was born at Lloydtown, near Newmarket. He attended school there and later at Newmarket high school. He received his M.A., at the University of Toronto and graduated from Wycliffe College in 1895.

In Halifax for Time

After being ordained he was assistant to Canon Marsh at Lindsay and then went to St. Paul’s church, Halifax, as assistant to Rev. Canon Dyson Hague. Following this, he became rector of St. Thomas’ church, St. Catharines, and remained there for 21 years. For two years he was organizer of the Forward Movement, with headquarters at Hamilton.

The he came to Welland, had remained here since, taking an active part in all church activities. In addition to his widow, formerly Jean Harris, two sons survive him, Ronald Perry, on the staff of Pickering college at Newmarket, and Karl R., an employee of the Robert Simpson Company, Toronto. Three brothers and  two sisters also survive. They are: Rev. R.J.W. Perry, Streetsville; William, Schomberg; Robert L., Islington; Mrs. W.E. McKinley, Toronto and Miss Ettie, Toronto. Rev. T.H. Perry, an uncle, noted professor at Halifax, died several years ago. The archdeacon was formerly a chaplain of the Second Dragoons and was a member of the Masonic order.

“He was one of the older graduates of Wycliffe College,” Principal R. McElheran said in Toronto last night, “and was highly respected by his classmates. As a pastor, he was extremely sympathetic, an able preacher and a wise leader. I am indeed distressed to hear of his sudden death, and I know that all over the Canadian church his loss will be felt.”

Tribune of An Old Friend

“I counted him as one of my oldest friends,” said R.W. Allin, secretary of the Synod of Toronto. “I first met Archdeacon Perry when I was attending high school at Uxbridge. He was then a student assisting the rector of St. Paul’s church. As a priest he had been highly successful, always earnest and devoted. A man of strong character and pleasing personality, he was known for his firm stands on all matters affecting the policy or interest of the church. He will be missed as a friend, and from the councils of the church. I am deeply grieved by his death.”

Bishop is Shocked

“Archdeacon Perry was for most years an outstanding clergyman of this diocese,” said Rt. Rev. Derwyn T. Owen, Bishop of Niagara, “For 20 years he was rector of St. Thomas church, St. Catharines, for two years educational secretary for the diocese and had been rector of Holy Trinity church, Welland, since 1920. He had been archdeacon of the counties of Lincoln and Welland for about 20 years.”

“He was held in the highest regard by all the clergy and laity and was a leading figure in all undertakings of the Synod. Deeply religious and strong in his views, he was also very charitable in his outlook. I saw him on Monday, at the ordination service in St. Catharines. He was then in his usual robust health and his death is a great shock. As his bishop who knew of the magnitude of his work, I can only say he has left a place that will be hard to fill.”

Possessed Kindly Spirit

“It is with deep regret that the members of the Canal Area Ministerial Association learn of the death of Archdeacon Perry,” stated Rev. Dr. P.K. Dayfoot of Port Colborne, president of the association, this morning. “As a man and former president, he had won the esteem of the association by his kindly spirit and his fraternal attitude toward his fellow pastors. In the discussions concerning local and general problems, his counsel was always appreciated, and he will be missed in the days to come. To the family sorely bereaved, and the church so suddenly bereft, on behalf of the association I tender deep sympathy,” Dr. Dayfoot stated.

Visited Europe

Prior to coming to Welland, the archdeacon visited Europe and while in London had the honor of dining at Lambeth Palace with the late Rev. Randall Davidson, the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, the present archbishop and the present Archbishop of York, Dr. Temple. Autographed pictures of these church dignitaries grace the walls of the archdeacon’s vestry room at Holy Trinity church.