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THE PASSING OF ARCHDEACON PERRY
EDITORIAL
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 28 December 1931]
In the sudden death of Venerable Archdeacon N. Perry, the Grim Reaper has laid a heavy hand on Holy Trinity parish in particular and on the city of Welland as a whole. The revered Anglican rector, during his 12 years ministry here, was loved not only by his own parishioners but by the members of other denominations as well and the news of his tragic passing came as a profound shock to the entire community.
Only a few brief hours before his death the archdeacon had celebrated holy communion at three services, and after wishing his congregation the season’s greetings, had hurriedly taken the train for Toronto to spend Christmas day with his family. It could not be known then that his life’s journey was drawing to a close and that when the rector returned to this church, to which he was so deeply devoted, he would come back wrapped in the mantle of death.
Archdeacon Perry was one of the older graduates of Wycliffe college and in his student days was much beloved by his classmates. It was manifest then that he would be extremely sympathetic, an able preacher, a commanding leader and a wise counsellor. These attributes he cultivated during the years of his ministry and as a result he was recognized for many years as an outstanding clergyman in the Niagara diocese. Deeply religious, he was known as a man of strong character, ever ready to express his convictions on what he believed right and just. His was a firm stand on all matters affecting the policy or interest of the church.
The death of Archdeacon Perry was untimely, yet he would say with Saint Paul, “I have fought a good fight; I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” He had lived to see the completion of the Guild Hall, a task to which he had devoted his energies for many years in the interests of the boys and girls of his Sunday school; the mortgage on the church had been burned only last week, he had lived to attain what he considered was the crowning success of his life, the conferring upon him by his alma mater of the degree of doctor of divinity, and finally, he had that day administered the last communion of the year to his congregation.
Archdeacon Perry has preached his last sermon, his life is done. But his ministry here will be as a beacon shining out to lead his congregation and as a guide to his successor whoever he may be.
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