The Reverend canon Kenneth O. Davis
Our Rector, the Reverend Canon Kenneth Owen Davis is a cradle Anglican Christian who gives thanks to God for his formation in the Faith by his parents. Ken was born and raised in Toronto until his parents moved the family to Oshawa, and he finished High School there. In his teens Ken trained as a Lifeguard, was certified as a Scuba Diver in and served in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. Ken had a renewal and reaffirmation of his faith when he was 19. He attended Queen’s University in Kingston, receiving a general B.A. with Philosophy as his Major. After graduation Ken moved to Toronto, was married and worked in Television and Radio advertising until hearing a call to explore training for the Anglican Priesthood. He attended Wycliffe College –the Anglican Evangelical seminary that is part of the ecumenical Toronto School of Theology. He graduated with an M.Div. and was ordained a Deacon by the Bishop of Toronto in 1986. Ken was ordained to the Priesthood in 1987.
Ken was mentored in the faith and ministry by the Rev. Charles Edwards. He served as Assistant Curate and then priest-in-charge of St. Peter’s, Erindale. He went on to serve as Incumbent of St. Barnabas, Peterborough and All Saints’, Whitby before becoming Rector and Dean of the Cathedral of St. Alban the Martyr, Prince Albert, SK. Throughout more than 30 years of ordained ministry Ken has led and created youth groups and Bible Studies, served on many working groups and committees of the Church including the SARS working Group, the Doctrine and Worship Committee and the Postulancy Committee(Toronto). Ken has attended a number of Colleges of Preachers and Alban Institute courses in the U.S.A and Canada. He is a Priest Associate of the Sisters of St. John the Divine. He has supervised and helped train theological students and ordinands and is passionate about vocational discernment and Christian formation. In Saskatchewan, Ken pioneered the establishment of a Cree Language and Culture recovery programme with funding from the Anglican Healing Fund and the leadership of the Rev. Sam Halkett. Ken has represented the Church at hearings and regional gatherings which were part of the work of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Throughout his life and Ministry Ken believes that God has blessed and sustained him through many wonderful people – with friendship, counsel and love. He has known what it is to serve Christ as a single father and as a married priest.
Ken is married to Gillian (“Gill”) a Paediatric Physiotherapist and they have 3 sons and 2 grandchildren. An avid cyclist, swimmer and sea kayaker, Ken was prompted to overcome his reluctance to try running to prepare for successive years of the World Record Perth Kilt run Classic 5 mile – which he has completed 3 times - kilt and all. He attempts to follow his father and grandfather in working with wood, making toys and fixing things. He loves movies and music, PEI and Perth. Since moving to Lanark County, Ken has learned to use a chainsaw (safely) and make Maple Syrup!
Ken was appointed to be our Incumbent Priest and Pastor in September 2015 and gives thanks to God for the welcome, support and encouragement he and his family have received from their St. James parish family. He is active in the Perth Ministerial and currently serves as Regional Dean of Lanark. Ken was honoured to be made the Canon of St. Deborah at Christchurch Cathedral on Oct. 1, 2021.