The Diocese of the Arctic was formed in 1933 and incorporated in 1961. The territory of the diocese spans the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik (Northern Quebec). Originally the See city was in Aklavik with All Saints as the Pro-Cathedral, but in 1972 the See city became Frobisher Bay (Iqaluit), because the Mackenzie River area had become its own Episcopal District. St. Jude's Cathedral was built in Iqaluit especially to be the Cathedral for the Diocese of the Arctic. The diocese ministers primarily among Inuit people, but has also included First Nations and Caucasians in its mission stations. From the earliest days the missionaries in the Arctic were involved in translation, medical services and education.
The Diocese of the Arctic has had five diocesan bishops - Archibald Lang Fleming (1933-1949), Donald Ben Marsh (1950-1973), John Reginald Sperry (1974-1990), John Christopher Richard Williams (1991-2002 ), Andrew Philip Atagotaaluk (2002-2012), David Parsons (2012- ).
Suffragan Bishops were introduced in 1963 with Henry George Cook (1963-1966). Since then others have followed - James Charles MacLeod Clarke (1979-1986), J.C.R. Williams (1987-1990), Terrence Owen Buckle (1993-1995), Paul Oodleteta Idlout (1996-2004), Andrew Philip Atagotaaluk (1999-2002), Larry David Robertson (1999-2010), and Benjamin Tatigat Arreak (2002-2010), Darren McCartney (2012-2019), Joey Royal, (2019- ), Annie Ittoshat (2019- ), Lucy Netser (2019- ).
The diocese was formed from the northern portions of four diocese - Yukon (formerly Selkirk), Keewatin, Moosonee, and Mackenzie River. In 1955 the diocese was expanded to include the Mackenzie River area, until 1966 when it was transferred to the spiritual jurisdiction of the diocese of Athabasca. In 1971 the Mackenzie River area became the Episcopal District of the Mackenzie with the Rt. Rev. Henry Cook as Bishop. The district rejoined the diocese of the Arctic in 1974.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created or accumulated by the Diocese of the Arctic. The records cover missionary work in the Arctic and include missions that were originally administered by the dioceses of the Yukon (formerly Selkirk), Keewatin, Moosonee, and Mackenzie River (1884-1970).
The fonds is arranged in series which include:
Administration records, bishops records, parish records, translation records, hospital records, financial records, audio-visual records, graphic records, cartographic records, printed material, and collected material from various Arctic missionaries.
The bishops' records include clergy files, women workers, catechists and lay workers, mission station files, diocesan files, pastoral letters, executive committee files, Arthur Turner Training School and catechist schools files.
Henry Alford Naylor (1873-1956) graduated from McGill University and took his theological training at the Montreal Diocesan Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1896 and priest in 1897. He became the first missionary at Forty Mile, Yukon Territory where he worked among the miners for three years. In 1899, he became rector of St. Paul's, Dawson City. In 1901, Naylor returned to the Montreal diocese and became incumbent of Chelsea until 1905; Incumbent of Arundel, 1905-1910; Rector of Frehlighsburg, 1910-1915; Rector of St.Lambert, 1915-1926. Rural Dean, 1915-1927; Curate of St.Cyprus, Montreal, 1927-1933; Incumbent of Valleyfield, 1933-1945 (retired). H.A. Naylor was the son of Archdeacon W.H. Naylor of Clarendon, Quebec, and brother to Archdeacon R. Kenneth Naylor.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of personal and professional correspondence and photographs regarding people and places in the Diocese of Yukon. Includes correspondence with members of the Naylor family; Bp. and Mrs. W.C. Bompas; Roland Palmer of the S.S.J.E. and other people working in the in the Yukon such as Benjamin Totty, John Hawksley, Isaac Stringer, H.A. Cody, R.J. Bowen.
Lilian Jane Lucey was a nurse at Kimberley, the Columbia Coast Mission, Alert Bay, Old Crow and Fort Nelson.
Scope and Content
Fonds consist of letters from Walter R. Adams, Archbishop of Yukon Diocese, Archdeacon C.W. Kirksdy of Alaska Highway and Horace G. Watts, Bishop of Caledonia Diocese to Lucey pertaining to her work experience. A published booklet for children about Indians and Eskimos. Newspaper clippings about Old Crow. Photographs mixed in the textual records concerning schools, churches and native life in Old Crow.