Charles Stirling

Retired Canon, now deceased

Christ's Church Cathedral

Charles C Stirling (The Rev. Canon) was born in 1936, and, raised and educated in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1958 he married Janet, who, by the way, has had her own life in church activities. They have four children, 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 28, 2008

Charles has pursued writing, editing, art, liturgy, and writing primarily for the Dictionary of Hamilton Biography and the Niagara Anglican. He worked in the regional office of Dominion Stores Ltd, as well as The Burlington News and then Brabant Newspapers Ltd, holding the post of General Manager, where he was known for his interest in assisting charitable endeavours and special events in the Hamilton area

An early inclination, encouraged by The Venerable Earl Clark of St Mary's, Hamilton, to seek a vocation in the Church was placed on hold due to marriage and family. The quest was taken up again in 1978 and an undergraduate degree was obtained with five years of part-time study. Subsequent study followed at McMaster Divinity College. He was ordained deacon on the 6th of June 1988 and priest on November 30 th 1989. He continued at Brabant until 1990. There was a time in interim ministry and he arrived at St. Alban the Martyr, Hamilton as rector, in 1993. He was subsequently named Canon by The Right Reverend Ralph Spence. Retiring nine years later he was asked to become an Honorary Assistant at Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton, a position he still holds.

Over long years of parish and diocesan lay ministry he filled many capacities and held several appointments. He had become known as a moderate Anglo Catholic, but curiously he became decidedly liberal and interested in further study and liturgical change. Charles joined the Niagara Communications Committee in 2002 and was somewhat responsible for the founding of the Publisher's Advisory Board of the Niagara Anglican, assuming the role of chair in 2004.

In April of 2011, Charles became ill, and gave up his earthly life to live among God's Saints. His contributions to the Church of the Diocese of Niagara will live on. We hope and pray that his spiritual guidance will continue as he prays for our church and our ministry in his new life.

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