John Morton Comyn-Ching (b. 1878)
John Comyn-Ching was born in Bredgar, Kent, England, the son of James Morton Comyn-Ching. John came to Canada to be a student farmer and he served with the Royal North-West Mounted Police for three years. He moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where he met and married Margaret Jane Wilcox in 1903. Studying to be an Anglican minister, John was appointed to the Yukon Mission field in 1906.1) He was the Anglican minister at Grand Forks on Bonanza Creek.2)
In 1907, Rev. Comyn-Ching succeeded Christopher Reed as the curate in charge at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Dawson. He attended the First Synod of the Diocese of Selkirk in Whitehorse.3) He was several years in Dawson and was an ardent member of the Arctic Brotherhood, serving several terms as secretary of the organization. Shortly before his departure [in 1909] from Dawson he was chosen Arctic Chief and was presented with the jewel of office.4)
In 1910, John and his family moved to Souris, Manitoba, where he was rural dean. From there they moved to Vernon, British Columbia. John enlisted to serve in the First World War and was an Honourable Captain Chaplain [with the Mount Vernon Horse]. Shortly after the war John became secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1921, he became rector at Christ Church in Edmonton. He remained at Christ Church for fourteen years, during that time overseeing the construction of a new church and parish hall. John and Margaret had three children: Reginald, Gladys, and Margaret.5)