MINISTER FROM CANADA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30091, 27 March 1963, Page 15

MINISTER FROM CANADA

“Holiday” At Knox Church A Canadian minister has come to Christchurch to relieve the Rev. M. W. Wils m at Knox Church while M: Wilson makes his tour of Pi e®byterran parishes as New Zealand Moderator. Dr. H. Ashford, minister of Danforth United Church in Toronto, has been here for two weeks, and says he could out be enjoying it more. He was fire, invited to New Zealand when the Very Rev. J L. Gray was Moderator about six years ago They had been missionaries together in India and when Mr Gray was to make his modera'.orial tour, he asked Dr. Ashford to relieve him. “I couldn’t make it then," said Dr. Ashford, “because I was the church's financial secretary and had to raise eight million dollars for the benevolent budget. Then >n 1960 I went back to my parish, and this present visit was suggested by Mr Gray." The United Church in Canada was formed 35 years ago when the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches joined forces. Dr. Ashford said the church had 128 presbyteries and between three and four million members under pastoral care. Mrs Ashford is here with him. They have three sons, two of them ministers and the other in charge of research for Imperial Oil of Canada. Dr Ashford will be here until May. “It is a holiday for us and an affliction on the congregation.” he said, “bit* they seem to be putting up with us manfully.”