| Notes |
- Bury Free Press 15 May 1943, page 6. A pioneer missionary. West Suffolk man's work in Canada.
The death is reported from Sudbury, Ontario, of Canon George Prewer, a noted cleric of the Anglican Church in Canada, who was born in 1865 near Bury St. Edmund's, being son of Mr and Mrs. A.Prewer. A brother, Mr E.E.Prewer, resides at Riverside, Brockley.
A Canadian paper describes him as "one of the North Country's most colourful characters."
He farmed for a time with his father in the Whepstead district, went to Canada in 1885, and entered the Church there after studying the language of the Cree Indians, his first appointment being the far-flung parish then known as Rat Portage, in the Lake of the Woods territory and now known as Kenora. He built the foundations of the Anglican Church in that vast territory and held subsquent appointments in which the directed the affairs and worship of white and Indian people.
His work was marked by progress and explansion all round. Indian schools, parishes, stores and roads being opened up and developed under the sway of his influence, and the natives trusting and relying upon him implicity. Returning to Chapleau, the new school stands as a monument to his work.
In 1923 he went to Sudbury, Ont., as general missionary and canon organiser for the western section of his diocese, and in this 60th year, forsook canoe and portage, foot and horse travel, for the more modern and speedy aeroplane.
The Canadian Governtment leaned heavily upon him in administration of Indian affairs and he spoke both the Cree and Objibway languages in 50 years of life devoted to the welfare of the Indians and to the spread of the Gospel, which made him of the Church's most energetic and enthusiastic missionaries.
Source for what follows: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
ID: I11547 Name: George PREWER Sex: M
Birth: 14 Jan 1865 in Suffolk, England Death: 10 Mar 1943 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Note: 1901 Ontario Census, Algoma, Gore Bay C., Phipps St. Pt Lot 6, Household #118
PREWER George Male Head married 14 January 1865 36 Eng Eng Can CE Clergyman
Obituary,The Sudbury Daily Star, 1943
DEATH OF CANON PREWER ENDS EVENTFUL LIFE
Ministered for 50 Years in North County
The death late yesterday afternoon, March 10, in St. Joseph's Hospital, Sudbury, of Canon George Prewer, noted cleric of the Anglican Church in Canada, removes one of the North Country's most colorful characters.
Beginning his work at the time of the Riel Rebellion the zealour evangelizer had carried the gospel, by canoe, portage and foot, and more recently by airplane, to Indians and isolated settlements of the vast North hinterland from Manitoulin Island to Winnipeg and Hudson bay for upwards of 50 years. He had been the church's most energetic and enthusiastic missionary. If a record had been made of his travels in the interests of Christianity it would undoubtedly show him as outstanding in Canada, at least, in the number of miles covered, per person solaced.
Canon Prewer had been in failing health for some two years, and recently suffered an attack of influenza from which he failed to rally. The survivors, and immediate members of the family who were with him during his last illness, are; Mrs. William-Martin (Marguerite), of 104 Drinkwater St., Sudbury; Miss Ann Elizabeth Prewer, of Newport News, Va., and Lieut. Vincent H. Prewer, stationed at Camp Borden. His wife, the former Mary Vincent, daughter of the late Archdeacon Vincent of Fort Albany, predeceased him in 1936. They were married while the bride was a student at Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, from where his daughter Marguerite later graduated. Miss Ann Prewer attended St. Hilda's College, a branch of the Univeristy of Toronto. In addition there is a sister, Mrs. A. Farmer, of Toronto; a brother, Aubrey Prewer, of Reno, Nev., and two sisters and one brother in England.
Canon Prewer was one laborer in the vineyard who saw his work bear fruit. Indian schools, parishes, stores and roads were opened up and developed under the sway of his influence and altogether a great part of the colonization of Norther Ontario and Norther Manitoba was due directly to his efforts. The Indians learned to trust and rely on him. One instance of this mutual respect and co-operation is typical of his life. It occurred in 1923 just after his retirement to Sudbury. A few days prior to Christmas that year, from a remote reserve, came word sent by an Indian chief asking Canon Prewer to hold services on Sunday. The Indians had returned from trap lines and they wanted him to conduct divine worship. Other arrangements had been made for that particular Sunday by the canon, but he cancelled all, and did not fail them. With dog teams, the Indians were at the train to meet him and he spent that Christmas with them in the deep bush of the Rainy River district.
Canon Prewer was born near Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk County), England, on January 14, 1865, a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Prewer. His birthplace was the locale of Dickens' famous Pickwick Papers. He attended school there until 14 years of age, and after farming for a time with his father, came to Canada in 1885, the year of the second Riel Rebellion. (Among the late canon's extensive collection of Indian mementoes and relics, and early Canadiana gathered through a lifetime of service in the Ontario and Manitoba areas, is one of the guns used by Louis Riel at the time of his first revolt, 1870. It was taken from him at that time by a Hudson's Bay Company factor and given to the canon years afterward as a souvenir of his work in the factor's particular district of Manitoba.)
A youth of 20 years, Canon Prewer arrived at Winnipeg in the autumn of 1885, determined to enter the ministry of his church, an ambition which found ready encouragement from the prefect of St. John's College, at Winnipeg immediately, undoubtedly as a test of his zeal, ability and endurance, and remained there for three years, teaching and studying the language of the Cree Indians under the auspices of the Church of England. He returned to Winnipeg in 1888 and set about to prepare himself for the ministry, graduating in divinity in 1892 from St. John's. He was ordained by the late Robert Machray who lived to become primate of all Canada and who was one of Canon Prewer's sources of encouragement and inspiration in the early years of his Christian endeavors.
His first appointment after ordination was to the far-flung parish then known at Rat Portage, in the Lake of the Woods territory, and now known as Kenora. He was stationed at Dinowick and saw communities established at Dryden and Ignace, as well as the building of churches in all three centres. At the same time he established a new missionary outpost at Lac Suel. He truly built the foundations of the Anglican Church in that vast territory, which have grown into enduring structures of influence today.
At the end of seven years the territory was ready for sub-division and the creation of two new parishes, with Canon Prewer being asked to move eastward to greater duties. In 1899 he became rector of St. John's Anglican Church at Chapleau, where he remained for three years. In 1902 he was appointed rector of church endeavors on Manitoulin Island, being stationed at Sheguiandah, from where he directed the affairs and worship of both white and Indian people. His missionary endeavors branched out to all parts of Manitoulin and to Whitefish and Birch Island on the mainland, and again his efforts were blessed by marked progress and achievement in his faith.
In 1913 he was prevailled upon to return to Chapleau and undertake the reconstruction of work across a wide territory from that point. His success may probably be best measured by the new Indian school which stands as a monument today to his work in Chapleau. It was a feeble institution when he took over as principal, but within five years it had developed to such an extent that there was an enrollment of 102 pupils under the supervision of a large staff. Buildings had been erected, with the assistance of government grants, to the value of $150,000. The department appreciated the worth of the school to this extent, which was an unusual amount for a subsidy in those days. Apart from the usual governement school grants, accorded every public school, the Chapleau institution during Canon Prewer's administration became self-supporting.
During this time, Canon Prewer was also the agent of the Diocese of Moosonee, but he retired from his active labors centred in Chapleau in 1923, and came to Sudbury to reside. For the years from 1923 to 1930 he continued as general missionary and canon organizer for the western section of the diocese, being particularly concerned with the progress of his church in Gogama, Foleyet and Elsas.
It was during these years, when near his 60th milestone, that the canon forsook canoe and portage, foot and horse travel, for the more modern and efficient airplane. He made many flights of mercy to distant Indian settlements, to settle distress and difficulties which no other man could have handled.
An interpreter of note, he proved a stout staff upon which the Canadian government leaned heavily in its administration of Indian affairs. For years he accompanied the official Indian agent in the paying of treaty money, and in settling the many differences which came up from time to time between red men and white. He spoke both the Cree and Ojibway tongues.
Fifty years of his life were devoted to the welfare of the Indians of this division of Canada and to the spread of Christian gospel. The imprint of his teaching and example will be found in thousands of lives today. He was one of the colonizing spirits of civiliazation in the district. Now he has gone to his eternal rest.
The remains are resting at the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home with services to be held in the Church of the Epiphany to Friday, March 12, at 2 p.m., under the direction of the rector, Rev. P. Beattie.
Article, uncited
One small town houses two Anglican churches
By Julie Strain
Sheguiandah-The little town of Sheguiandah, a few miles south of Little Current on Highway 6, has the unique feature of having two Anglican churches.
It all began in 1862, when Manitoulin was thrown open to white settlers. The Sheguiandah and the Sucker Creek Indian reserves were set aside for the protestant Natives. Reverend Jabez Waters Sims, one of the first missionaries to Manitoulin, moved with the Native people to Sheguiandah.
Historical document at the Little Current-Howland Centennial Museum say that Reverend Sims immediately erected a combination church and school. However, it is not clear whether they were built on the present day sight or by Ten Mile Point, where the priest lived.
Reverend Sims had a large parish extending from Manitowaning to Killarney and from Whitefish River to Sagamuck, including Little Current and Birch Island.
According to Reverend Clifford Dee, the present day Anglican priest for the Sheguiandah, Sucker Creek and little Current area, Reverend Sims drowned in 1869 while on his way to a baptism in Killarney.
The history books state that Reverend Sims was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's after a large funeral. However, it is unclear whether St. Andrew's was the combination church and school or the church that is standing today. This is why it is unknown when the present day church of St. Andrew's was constructed.
Upon the death of Reverend Sims, Reverend Sims, Reverend Roland Hill came to Sheguiandah and took up Reverend Sims' parish. Hoever, the only stayed for seven years before he went to the Mindemoya area to take up farming. Sandy McGillivary, a councilor of the Town of Little Current, said that he heard Reverend Hill left the church because "he had a falling out with the bishop."
Reverend Frederick Frost then came to Sheguiandah and it was during his time in the area that St. Peters Church is found on the right hand side of Green Bay Road just after the four corners in Sheguiandah. It was built in 1883 and Reverend Frost acted as priest for both of the churches. As well, he also travelled to Little Current to act as a missionary.
Reverend Frost was very interested in the Ojibway culture and during his time on the Island wrote a book called Sketches of Indian Life. As well, he translated a hymnary book into the Ojibway language.
It is unknown why Sheguiandah has two Anglican churches. Reverend Dee felt that it was possible that two churches were needed to accommodate the the size of the congregation. "I know there was a lot of going back and forth," he said. "The congregations did mix."
Reverend Frost's home burnt down while he was in Sheguiandah and the basement containing brick work is the only structure remaining. It can be seen by wandering to the right of St. Andrew's church. Reverend Dee said that it was at this time that the rectory was moved off the reserve and to the village of Sheguiandah.
Vivian Baxter, a member of St. Peter's congregation all her life, remembers the rectory being Jim Ferguson's present day home on Sheguiandah Bay. She recalls the first minister to live there as Reverend George Prewer and the last to be reverend Frederick Jewel.
St. Andrew's, situated in the heart of the Native Reserve and St. Peter's, situated off the highway in the village of Sheguiandah, are very similar in description. Both have a small entrance way, a bell, a working pump organ and an almost identical alter. As well, both churches host a plaque in memory of Reverend Frost's wife, and an array of photographs of the priests and congregations through the years.
The only feature in St. Andrew's that recognizes its Native congregation is a pair of hand-made Native dolls by Simon Esquimaux at the front of the church. As well, Mr. Esquimaux' paintings of churches are hanging on the walls.
Reverend Dee attributed the lack of Native symbols within the church as a part of the churches' history. St. Andrew's was built, he said, "Before Native spirituality was recognized. There was a time when any type of Native spirituality was demonic." He explained, "That's something that has changed now, at least in some parts of the church, so that there's a blending in terms of Christian work."
Mrs. Baxter said "St. Peter's unique feature is the beautiful alter and cross. She said St. Peter's is the church where she feels comfortable. "It's just kind of cosy," she explained.
The St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, better known as Cold Springs Church, celebrated its 103 birthday this year. over 100 people from Little Current, Rockville, Honora, Green Bay and across the Island travelled to the tiny church on Highway 540 last Sunday to participate in the once a year service.
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1865 - 1943 (78 years)
