James Endicott (church leader)
Encyclopedia
James Endicott was a Canadian
church leader and missionary
. He was born in Devon
, England
the fourth of eleven children. His father was a farm worker.
Endicott left England for Canada at the age of seventeen and worked with his brother as a house painter in southwestern Ontario
. He met Sarah Diamond who introduced him to the Methodist church. Sarah and James married and Endicott became a probationary minister for the church and was sent to Lethbridge
in western Canada. He impressed the local minister who sponsored his application to study at the University of Manitoba's
Wesley College
. His colleagues at the Methodist college raised money upon his graduation to send him the new Methodist mission in Szechuan, China
in 1893, the same year as his ordination
. The Endicotts and their five children returned to Canada in 1910 due to the poor health of their youngest daughter and settled in Toronto
where James Endicott became general secretary
of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Church of Canada in 1913.
In 1924 and 1925, Endicott was a leading figure in efforts to merge the Methodist, Congregationalist
and Presbyterian churches leading to the creation of the United Church of Canada
in 1925. He served as Moderator of the United Church of Canada
from 1926 to 1928. He also served as head of the Foreign Missions Board of the United Church from its founding until his retirement in 1937 and remained a leading figure in the denomination until the end of his life.
His son, James Gareth Endicott
, was also a minister and missionary in China and became a supporter of the Communist Party of China
and the People's Republic of China
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
church leader and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. He was born in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the fourth of eleven children. His father was a farm worker.
Endicott left England for Canada at the age of seventeen and worked with his brother as a house painter in southwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He met Sarah Diamond who introduced him to the Methodist church. Sarah and James married and Endicott became a probationary minister for the church and was sent to Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
in western Canada. He impressed the local minister who sponsored his application to study at the University of Manitoba's
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
Wesley College
Wesley College, Winnipeg
Wesley College was a college that existed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1888 to 1967. It was one of the University of Winnipeg's founding colleges.-History:...
. His colleagues at the Methodist college raised money upon his graduation to send him the new Methodist mission in Szechuan, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1893, the same year as his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
. The Endicotts and their five children returned to Canada in 1910 due to the poor health of their youngest daughter and settled in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where James Endicott became general secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Church of Canada in 1913.
In 1924 and 1925, Endicott was a leading figure in efforts to merge the Methodist, Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
and Presbyterian churches leading to the creation of the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
in 1925. He served as Moderator of the United Church of Canada
Moderator of the United Church of Canada
The Moderator of the United Church of Canada is the presiding leader of the United Church of Canada, Canada's largest Protestant denomination. The church is highly decentralized and non-dogmatic and the moderator has only limited power...
from 1926 to 1928. He also served as head of the Foreign Missions Board of the United Church from its founding until his retirement in 1937 and remained a leading figure in the denomination until the end of his life.
His son, James Gareth Endicott
James Gareth Endicott
James Gareth Endicott was a Canadian clergyman, Christian missionary and socialist.- Family and early life :Endicott was born in Szechuan Province, China, the third of five children to a Methodist missionary family and became fluent in Chinese. His family returned to Canada in 1910...
, was also a minister and missionary in China and became a supporter of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
and the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.