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St. Paul’s pulled out all the stops on April 7 for the Installation of Very Rev. Dr. Kevin George as Rector and Dean of Huron. 

From prelude to postlude, from pipe organ to bagpipes, from brass quintet to the quintessential crooning of Denise Pelly, accompanied by Angus Sinclair on piano, the solos of Catherinanne George, accompanied by her father Michael Foltz, and Iain Stevensen, the night was a musical celebration.

The celebration began with a gift of Sacred Drumming from the Eagle Flight Singers of Walpole Island. Dr. Olive Elm offered The Words Before All Else in Onieda.

This was followed by a very moving smudge. Bill Hill, reflected on his Anglican and Haudenosaunee heritage, memories of his mother, and a sacred gift of community before smudging the new Dean  along with Bishop Todd Townshend, and the three church wardens.

The presider was our Bishop, Right Rev. Todd Townshend. Rev. John Marsh preached a stirring homily. All present walked away reflecting on Mary Oliver’s profound question: “Are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?” It was a call to the church to risk. Risk in the name of Jesus to embrace life in all of its fullness.

Once the Dean received the Mace from The Bishop he was escorted to the Dean’s stall to a brass fanfare replete with hints of traditional Newfoundland folk music, concluding with the Ode to Newfoundland. The piece was especially arranged by Cathedral organist Iain Sadler and played with flair by our guest organist Angus Sinclar and a five piece brass ensemble.

The procession of nearly 200 souls, included MPs, MPPs, City councillors, community and business leaders, Cathedral leadership, St Paul’s Social Services, close to 100 Diocesan clergy and –importantly  – some of the Cathedral’s unhoused neighbours.  Over 500 people attended and all came away with a sense of hope for what the future holds for the people of St. Paul’s and those in it’s neighbourhood, as well as for the Diocese of Huron.