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THOMAS HARPUR Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for THOMAS HARPUR
11 Entries
Ken Swanston
June 15, 2025
I was lucky enough to see his presentation on Idea City but sad, in trying to follow him up with a Google search, to find he had passed on. It was refreshing to find a scholar whose view of religions so closely matched my own. I hope you have many good memories of him and may they always be with you.
Ralph N. Coles
January 17, 2017
In talking to Tom I always felt that my knowledge of world affairs was so inadequate. Tom was a humble man but obviously from his writings, a great thinker and scholar. In my last conversation with him, he defended the plight of the indigenous people in no uncertain terms. I understand that in his early days he taught in some of their northern communities. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Mary McHarg
January 15, 2017
I feel great sadness but also gratitude at the news of Tom's death. He was a man of pristine thought, faith, courage and character who influenced many, including myself, to delve deeper into our theology and ministry. We have all been blessed by his presence.Sorrows and Blessings with those who mourn.
January 8, 2017
Requiescat in pace
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January 8, 2017
How well I remember Tom in my early years in Scarborough when I was at St. Peter's & we'd meet up at the occasional ministerial meetings, and then many years later running into him at the coffee shop in Oak Ridges. I admired Tom as Priest, preacher, & author. May he be received into the loving arms of Jesus in Heaven.
Requiescat in pace Tom.
Ron Davies
Cannington Ontario.
January 8, 2017
In addition to his many published volumes and Star columns, I remember Tom as a "local," taking long walks with his walking-stick from Oak Ridges where he lived to Aurora, where we still live.
During the recession of 1982, Revs. Graham Tucker, Brian Murray and I developed "Operation Bootstrap" at the Anglican Aurora Conference Centre - a five day residential program for unemployed managers and executives from the Toronto area. For the first few months, this ministry lumbered along slowly, without adequate marketing. Then Tom, as Religion Editor of the Star, landed it on the front page one Saturday evening with a full cover story and photographs.
"Bootstrap" took off and never looked back. It expanded to all unemployed workers and survived for many years, ending up in downtown Toronto at the King-Bay Chaplaincy, which Tucker had founded years earlier, led by lay graduates of the "Bootstrap" initiative.
Tom was well-known as a Canadian biblical scholar and theologian. Yet he was a quiet, soft-spoken and humble guy. Less known, was his committment to clergy friends and colleagues, and to social action and justice issues on behalf of those less fortunate whose lives were in transition. He lived and breathed his spirituality, his oneness with creation that he experienced on his long, solitary walks, which to this day, is my preferred setting for theological reflection.
I remember Tom fondly and with gratitude for his capacity to stir the scholar's pot while walking the theological talk.
My condolences to Susan and family.
Rev. John Harries - United Church of Canada - now retired, Aurora.
Ray & Eloise Hagerman
January 8, 2017
To Jane and family, We were sorry to hear of the death of your brother. We are thinking of you, and other family members, at this sad time. Ray & Eloise
January 7, 2017
Tom was our Priest at St. Margaret's in the Pines in West Hill. He was in charge of building the new church there in the early 60's. We felt a great loss when he went to England to further his studies.
Kleo Hodgson McWatters
Judith Auger
January 7, 2017
Tom was honorary assistant at the Church of Saint Columba, East York, and his sermons challenged us as young children. Requiescat in pace et lux perpetua luceat eis. Judith Auger
January 7, 2017
Tom was honorary assistant at the Church of Saint Columba, East York, and his sermons challenged us as young children. Requiescat in pace et lux perpetua luceat eis. Judith Auger
Connie Roias Farrell
January 7, 2017
Tom Harpur was a wonderful writer. He made me think about life.
Connie Roias Farrell, Etobicoke, Ontario
Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results