Clergy

Father Gary Thorne, Priest-in-Charge

The Rev’d Canon LCol (Rtd) Dr. Gary Thorne, Dunelm, M.M.M., grew up in Saint John, NB, Canada, in the 1950s in the abyss of a brutal urban poverty from which he took refuge in the inner life. His academic studies have always been in the interests of a lifelong pastoral commitment to the materially and spiritually impoverished. Concurrent with twenty-three years as chaplain in the Canadian Military, Thorne served as rector of rural and urban parishes for twenty-five years, and as university chaplain for two universities for sixteen years.  He is the recipient of three honorary degrees from Canadian Universities, both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the United Nations Disengagement Observation Force Medal, The Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Medal, and he is a Member of the Military Order of Merit. 

Father Thorne came to know divine friendship and to understand the continuing conversion of the soul by hearing the sermons of Dr Robert Crouse in the late 1970s. Father Thorne has devoted his retirement to promoting the legacy of the teaching of Robert Crouse for the renewal of the Church. Father Thorne was Rector of the Round Church 1990-2015, and is humbled to be asked to help out while the parish seeks its next Rector.

Father Peter Harris, Honourary Assistant

Father Peter Harris was the son of an Anglican Priest and grew up in the Parishes of Petite Riviere, Musquodoboit Harbour and Bedford, before attending the University of King’s College and later Trinity College, Toronto and becoming a priest himself.  During his university years, he was organist and choir master at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Dartmouth and was for many years Director of the Anglican Youth Camp at Mason’s Point. His first parish was the Parish of Tangier on the Eastern Shore, where he served seven churches.  Following his time in Tangier, he became Rector of the Parish of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Charlottetown, where he served for 25 years. Over the years, he supervised many theological students who have gone on to be priests in this Diocese and elsewhere.  He retired in 2014 and is now very happy to serve as Honourary Assistant at St. George’s.