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Bishop Townshend appoints the Reverend Canon Robert Lemon as Rector of St. James’, Stratford and St. Paul’s, Stratford effective December 1, 2022.  Canon Rob is currently the rector of St. Mark’s-by-the-Lake, Tecumseh.

 

We bring you glad tidings of Great Joy!

On behalf of our Bishop of Huron, Todd Townshend and our Executive Archdeacon, Tanya Phibbs, and especially on behalf of the St. James Selection Committee, we are delighted to announce the Bishop’s appointment of the Reverend Canon Robert Lemon currently a Rector in Tecumseh, as our new Rector. He will begin his official duties on December 1st.

We wish to mention that our Reverend Elaine has generously agreed to stay on as our interim rector until Rob arrives in December. Because she is doing so for the good of the parish at a time when she has a number of other demands on her time and energy, Elaine’s generosity in agreeing to remain as our interim rector needs to be recognized. The congregation will probably also want to know who will be ministering to us until Rob arrives, so it will be good to be able to assure them that we will remain in good hands.  Elaine, we can’t thank you enough!

As the chair of the committee, I want to pay tribute to your committee; I have never chaired a better one. I am deeply indebted to them all for their patience, determined efforts, the honest and prayerful consideration of others on the committee, and for their bemused tolerance of the Chair. You have been well served by this bunch; in fact they’ve been at it for 181 days. Thank you to the Wardens three, Nancy, James, and Pam and thank you to Lynne Falshaw, Jane Whittemore and Jan Schonfeldt for your devoted service!  Not bad for a bunch of ‘nearly seniors,’ eh?!

Finally, let’s hear from our new Rector:

Robert writes the following:

I was born and raised in London. I continued in the city through university and seminary, completing a BA in honours history at Kings College and a Master of Divinity at Huron College. I have been ordained for 18 years, married to Trish for 16 years, and father to Rebekah for 13 years and Jacob for 9 years. I have served parishes in Bright’s Grove and Camlachie, Leamington, and most recently in Tecumseh, near Windsor.

Prior to moving to Essex County and having children, Trish and I enjoyed day trips to Stratford and an annual night of Shakespearean entertainment at the Stratford Festival. In fact, on the Sunday after our wedding in 2006 Trish and I even went to church at St. James because we were staying in the area. We are looking forward to renewing and deepening our ties to the parish and community in the coming months and years. We anticipate lots of opportunities to contribute to the ministry that St. James offers, to help the parish grow in faith and love, and to share life with all of you. In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers and we will do the same for you.

Yours in Christ,

Rob +