William Carpenter Bompas
Encyclopedia
William Carpenter Bompas (20 January 1834 – 9 June 1906) was a Church of England
clergyman and missionary in northwestern Canada
, first Anglican
bishop of the Athabasca
diocese
, then of the Mackenzie River
diocese and then of the Selkirk (Yukon
) diocese as these dioceses were successively carved out of the original Rupert's Land
diocese. Born in London
, England
, he died in Carcross, Yukon
. His wife Charlotte Selina (Cox) Bompas participated in his missionary work, and wrote Owindia: A True Tale of the Mackenzie River Indians, North-West America.
' Buzfux in The Pickwick Papers
. It is thought that Bompas' heritage lay in France, although members of the extended family resided in the United States and the United Kingdom. From 1844, a string of family deaths left the family in poor circumstances. When William was aged ten, in February 1844, his father Charles died, leaving his eight children. His eldest son, also named Charles, died in 1847.
William's early education was supplied by a graduate of Cambridge University. Partly due to his private tuition and a lack of socialisation, William was considered a shy boy, and in his spare time preferred to sketch buildings such as churches instead of participate in games. His tutor, a Mr. Elliott, believed Bompas to be of high intellect, writing:
However, William Carpenter Bompas did not choose to pursue a university education, instead opting to become articled in the same law firm where his brother George was working. After his five years of service, he transferred to another company, which soon collapsed, causing great stress to Bompas. When his strength returned, Bompas decided to leave the Baptist
denomination to join the Church of England
, becoming confirmed in 1858 and ordained a deacon in 1859. He was appointed curate in a church at Sutton in the Marsh
, which had not had a resident clergyman since the 16th century. The area did not have a school, and in the face of considerable opposition, Bompas had opened one within two years. In 1861, Bompas' mother died, but undeterred, William transferred to another somewhat 'wild' parish in Nottingham. After a short stint in South Lincolnshire, Bompas returned to Alford, Lincolnshire
, where he took up a curate position. Soon after, the Church Missionary Society granted him a post in Rupert's Land
, Canada
to relieve a bishop. Bompas was quickly ordained into the priesthood and sent away to Canada.
via the Hudson River and railway, subsequently making his way to Chicago, La Crosse and St. Paul. Upon reaching St. Cloud
, a problem presented itself to Bompas' travelling party. In 1862, a Sioux
massacre occurred, and the local Indians were wary of another attack. However, Bompas was advised that they would respect the English flag. Although the party did not have an English flag
on hand, Bompas took initiative and crafted a banner for their ox-carts. This was just as well, as Indians who had ridden up in their horses to survey the ox-cart party left them alone once they spotted their flags.
Bompas eventually reached the Red River Settlement, and from there, he was rowed by Salteaux Indians in Hudson's Bay Company
boats. The Methye Portage
was reached on October 12, too late to catch a boat going further north due to the ensuing winter. Bompas engaged a crew to row him further north, reaching Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
after days of struggle against the cold. Although he was invited to stay the winter at Fort Chipewyan, this offer was rejected, Bompas preferring to push further ahead. When the river became frozen over, his party continued by land, reaching the safety of Fort Resolution
mid-winter. After a month's stay there, he was dispatched from there armed with snowshoes and a strong party. Bompas was determined to reach Fort Simpson
before Christmas Day, and that he did, drawing into the entrance to the Fort on Christmas morning.
and set up a school there, before returning to Fort Simpson in August 1866. It was decided that Bompas should not be given a post to tend to, rather he should be given a roving commission, which pleased him greatly. Returning to Fort Norman, Bompas began to learn the Slavey language
before leaving for Fort Rae in January 1867. In August 1868, after over a year travelling around various Forts, Bompas returned to Fort Simpson to take charge of that mission post after the resignation of the previous missionary there.
In 1873, Bompas was nominated as the first bishop of the new diocese of Athabasca, in the northwest of his present diocese. Although he was not initially pleased at the prospect of presiding over such a large area, he was convinced otherwise, and in May 1874 Bompas was consecrated bishop of Athabasca at a church in London. He immediately returned to Canada. In 1884, his diocese was divided again, and Bompas became the first bishop of Mackenzie River. In 1891, Bompas moved into the Yukon
with the creation of a new diocese, Selkirk. In 1905, he resigned from his position as bishop, and on June 9 the following year, he died at Carcross, Yukon
.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman and missionary in northwestern Canada
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...
, first Anglican
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
bishop of the Athabasca
Athabasca
Athabasca is an anglicized version of the Cree name for Lake Athabasca in Canada, āthap-āsk-ā-w , meaning “grass or reeds here and there”.Related to the lake are several other geographical and administrative features called Athabasca...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, then of the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
diocese and then of the Selkirk (Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
) diocese as these dioceses were successively carved out of the original Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
diocese. Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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...
, he died in Carcross, Yukon
Carcross, Yukon
Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing, is an unincorporated community in the Territory of Yukon, Canada on Bennett Lake and Nares Lake. It has a population of 431 and is home to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation....
. His wife Charlotte Selina (Cox) Bompas participated in his missionary work, and wrote Owindia: A True Tale of the Mackenzie River Indians, North-West America.
Early life
William Carpenter Bompas was born on January 20, 1834 at Regent's Park, London to father Charles and mother Mary Steele. It is thought that Charles Carpenter Bompas served as the inspiration for Charles DickensCharles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Buzfux in The Pickwick Papers
The Pickwick Papers
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club is the first novel by Charles Dickens. After the publication, the widow of the illustrator Robert Seymour claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband's; however, in his preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens strenuously denied any...
. It is thought that Bompas' heritage lay in France, although members of the extended family resided in the United States and the United Kingdom. From 1844, a string of family deaths left the family in poor circumstances. When William was aged ten, in February 1844, his father Charles died, leaving his eight children. His eldest son, also named Charles, died in 1847.
William's early education was supplied by a graduate of Cambridge University. Partly due to his private tuition and a lack of socialisation, William was considered a shy boy, and in his spare time preferred to sketch buildings such as churches instead of participate in games. His tutor, a Mr. Elliott, believed Bompas to be of high intellect, writing:
I never had a pupil who made such acquisitions of knowledge in so short a time; his attainments in mathematics and classics are far beyond the majority of youths at his age, and would warrant anyone conversant with the state of education in the Universities in predicting a brilliant career for him, should he ever have that path open to him. I think, however, that the development of his mind is still more remarkable than the amount of his knowledge.
However, William Carpenter Bompas did not choose to pursue a university education, instead opting to become articled in the same law firm where his brother George was working. After his five years of service, he transferred to another company, which soon collapsed, causing great stress to Bompas. When his strength returned, Bompas decided to leave the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
denomination to join the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, becoming confirmed in 1858 and ordained a deacon in 1859. He was appointed curate in a church at Sutton in the Marsh
Mablethorpe and Sutton
Mablethorpe and Sutton is a civil parish and town in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. It is on the North Sea coast and includes Mablethorpe, Trusthorpe, Sutton-on-Sea and Sandilands along with the inland village of Thorpe...
, which had not had a resident clergyman since the 16th century. The area did not have a school, and in the face of considerable opposition, Bompas had opened one within two years. In 1861, Bompas' mother died, but undeterred, William transferred to another somewhat 'wild' parish in Nottingham. After a short stint in South Lincolnshire, Bompas returned to Alford, Lincolnshire
Alford, Lincolnshire
- Notable residents :* Captain John Smith who lived in nearby Willoughby* Anne Hutchinson, pioneer settler and religious reformer in the United States* Thomas Paine, who was an excise officer in the town....
, where he took up a curate position. Soon after, the Church Missionary Society granted him a post in Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land
Rupert's Land, or Prince Rupert's Land, was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin that was nominally owned by the Hudson's Bay Company for 200 years from 1670 to 1870, although numerous aboriginal groups lived in the same territory and disputed the...
, Canada
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...
to relieve a bishop. Bompas was quickly ordained into the priesthood and sent away to Canada.
Arrival in Rupert's Land
Bompas' journey began on June 30, 1865, when he left London for Liverpool, from where he was to take a steamer to New York. From New York Bompas travelled to NiagaraNiagara, New York
Niagara is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 8,378. The town is named after the famous waterfall Niagara Falls....
via the Hudson River and railway, subsequently making his way to Chicago, La Crosse and St. Paul. Upon reaching St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, a problem presented itself to Bompas' travelling party. In 1862, a Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
massacre occurred, and the local Indians were wary of another attack. However, Bompas was advised that they would respect the English flag. Although the party did not have an English flag
Flag of England
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross . The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England...
on hand, Bompas took initiative and crafted a banner for their ox-carts. This was just as well, as Indians who had ridden up in their horses to survey the ox-cart party left them alone once they spotted their flags.
Bompas eventually reached the Red River Settlement, and from there, he was rowed by Salteaux Indians in Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
boats. The Methye Portage
Methye Portage
The Methye Portage or Portage La Loche in northwestern Saskatchewan was one of the most important portages in the old fur-trade route across Canada. It connected the Mackenzie River basin to rivers that ran east to the Atlantic. It was reached by Peter Pond in 1778 and abandoned in 1883 when...
was reached on October 12, too late to catch a boat going further north due to the ensuing winter. Bompas engaged a crew to row him further north, reaching Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
Fort Chipewyan, commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. It is located on the western tip of Lake Athabasca, adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately north of Fort McMurray.Fort Chipewyan is one of...
after days of struggle against the cold. Although he was invited to stay the winter at Fort Chipewyan, this offer was rejected, Bompas preferring to push further ahead. When the river became frozen over, his party continued by land, reaching the safety of Fort Resolution
Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories
Fort Resolution is a "settlement corporation" in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada...
mid-winter. After a month's stay there, he was dispatched from there armed with snowshoes and a strong party. Bompas was determined to reach Fort Simpson
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson is a village in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers...
before Christmas Day, and that he did, drawing into the entrance to the Fort on Christmas morning.
Later life
Bompas was to remain at Fort Simpson only for a short while. After a brief education in the Indian language there, he continued on to Fort NormanTulita, Northwest Territories
Tulita, which in Dene language means "where the rivers or waters meet," is a hamlet in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was formerly known as Fort Norman, until 1 January 1996...
and set up a school there, before returning to Fort Simpson in August 1866. It was decided that Bompas should not be given a post to tend to, rather he should be given a roving commission, which pleased him greatly. Returning to Fort Norman, Bompas began to learn the Slavey language
Slavey language
Slavey is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations of Canada in the Northwest Territories where it also has official status....
before leaving for Fort Rae in January 1867. In August 1868, after over a year travelling around various Forts, Bompas returned to Fort Simpson to take charge of that mission post after the resignation of the previous missionary there.
In 1873, Bompas was nominated as the first bishop of the new diocese of Athabasca, in the northwest of his present diocese. Although he was not initially pleased at the prospect of presiding over such a large area, he was convinced otherwise, and in May 1874 Bompas was consecrated bishop of Athabasca at a church in London. He immediately returned to Canada. In 1884, his diocese was divided again, and Bompas became the first bishop of Mackenzie River. In 1891, Bompas moved into the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
with the creation of a new diocese, Selkirk. In 1905, he resigned from his position as bishop, and on June 9 the following year, he died at Carcross, Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
.
External links
- Works by and about Bompas from Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- An Apostle of the North, by H. A. Cody (1908)