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Herbert Lench Pottle (1907-2002) was born in Flatrock Newfoundland in 1907 and died in Ottawa September 21, 2002. He married Muriel Ethel Moran in 1937 and they had three children -two daughters surviving into adulthood.

H.L. Pottle received his B.A. from Mount Allison (1932) and his M.A. (1934) and Ph.D. (1937) in Psychology and Education from the University of Toronto. Dr. Pottle received an LL.D. from Mount Alison in 1992.
Dr. Pottle held many government positions in Newfoundland including Executive Officer, Department of Education, St. John's (1938-1944); Director of Child Welfare for Newfoundland and judge of the first juvenile court in St. John's (1944-1947); Commissioner for Home Affairs and Education (1947-1949). He was known as the last living father of Confederation having been one of the men who brought Newfoundland into Canada. He resigned from the Smallwood Cabinet in 1955 and became the Secretary of the Board of Information and Stewardship for the United Church of Canada (1955-1963). In 1961-62 he worked overseas for the U.N. and left in 1963 to work in the Deparment of National Health and Welfare in Ottawa until his retirement in 1972.

Muriel Ethel Pottle (nee Moran) was originally from Smithfield Ontario and married Dr. Herbert Lench Pottle in 1937.
Muriel was active in the UCW, serving on the M&O Conference Executive in 1969-1971. She also volunteered on the Board of Directors for the St. John's YWCA.

Muriel died April 21, 1990 in Ottawa.

John and Betty Jean (BJ) (Neely) Klassen were a couple who were deeply involved in the United Church of Canada in various capacities.

John Klassen (1929-) was born in Saskatchewan. He graduated from United College at the University of Winnipeg with a B.A. (1951) and followed with a Diploma in Theology. Upon ordination by Manitoba Conference, he was settled at Sioux Lookout in Ontario from 1954-1958. Following that, he and his wife BJ both took a post-graduate year at Union Theological Seminary in New York (1959), then he returned to Wesley United Church in Welland from 1958-1964. While there, he held positions as Presbytery Chairman of Colleges and Students, Presbytery Christian Education Convenor, Chairman of the Vocations, and member of the National Board of Christian Education. These interests led to the acceptance of an appointment of Field Secretary for Christian Education for Manitoba Conference (1964-1968). He then returned to Kingston to work at St. Margaret’s Church from 1968-1977, where he was Chairman of the Bay of Quinte Conference Staff Committee, and a member of the Executive of the Conference and of the General Council Conference Staff Committee. He was Chairman of Kingston Presbytery and Chairman of the Committee on Candidates, and Professor/Director of Field Education at Queen’s Theological College. In 1986, he and his wife BJ became co-directors of Field Education at Emmanuel College.

Betty Jean (BJ) Neely (1929-2016) was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She attended elementary and high school in Fort Frances, then received a B.A. from United College, Winnipeg in 1954. Afterwards, she received a MRE degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1959), and a Master of Divinity from Queen’s Theological College in Kingston (1973). For a time, she was Bay of Quinte Conference staff with responsibility for Program and Leadership Development (1976-1985). In 1986 she and John became co-directors of Field Education at Emmanuel College. BJ was an ardent and dedicated volunteer with the church; taking part in The National Leadership Development Committee, The New Curriculum, The Task force on Sexuality and Morality, The Church and the World Commission, and The National Over-view Committee. She was also chair of the National Coordinating group for the United Church’s Study Program on Sexual Orientation, Lifestyles and Ministry. She was also deeply involved in her community and worked with the Ontario Welfare Council, Board of Directors of the Sunnyside Children’s Home in Kingston, was a member of the library board in Welland, and worked with unwed mothers, while being involved in CGIT, Student Christian Movement and Young People’s Movement. The Klassens had two children, Daphne and Gregory.

Jennifer Brown (1940-) is the great-granddaughter of Rev. Egerton Ryerson Young and daughter to Harcourt Brown who was the and nephew to E. Ryerson Young. She is a professor emeritus of history at the University of Winnipeg and author. She has done extensive research on her ancestry and indigenous history in Canada and the United States.

Harcourt Brown (1900-1990) was the maternal grandson of Rev. Egerton Ryerson Young and nephew to E. Ryerson Young. He conducted extensive research on his ancestry.

Rev. Frederick Merrill Ferguson (1909-1984) was a United Church missionary in Angola with his wife Verona Ferguson. M. Ferguson was born in Durham County, Ontario and from an early age was interested in church work. In 1925 he became a candidate for ministry and served as a student minister for the Board of Home Missions in Saskatchewan and Ontario during his summers off from university. During his studies, he worked as student minister in Scarborough, Ontario. He was ordained in 1933 alongside his brother Clarence, by the Bay of Quinte Conference. He subsequently worked for the Board of Home Missions in Cadomin-Mountain Park Pastoral Charge in Alberta. In 1934 he was appointed to the Angola Mission and also married Verona Ferguson (nee Clemence). In October 1934 he and V. Ferguson left for Angola where they both served as missionaries for the next twenty five years. In Angola they served at Chissamba, Camundongo and Dondi mission stations. Aside from his missionary work, M. Ferguson also organized boys’ work, taught village leaders, helped in the Portuguese church while studying Portuguese, served as president of the mission council and as a government liaison. In 1959 the Ferguson’s resigned from the mission for health and family reasons and returned to Canada. Upon his return, M. Ferguson served at the following charges until his retirement in 1979: Parkview United Church Stratford, Cosburn United Church Toronto East and Kings view United Church Oshawa.

Verona Irene Ferguson (1910-2005) was born in Stayner, Ontario. She was brought up in the Methodist Church. After high school she relocated to Toronto and studied to become a nurse. After graduation, she obtained a position in Northern Ontario with the Canadian Red Cross Society and spent over a year at Dryden. In 1934 she married M. Ferguson and for the next twenty five years served with him as a missionary in Angola. Upon the family’s return to Canada, V. Ferguson commuted to Toronto and did home visits with Portuguese speaking households. She passed away in 2005 at the age of ninety-four.

M. and V. Ferguson had four children. Their eldest daughter Helen Voutt (b. 1937) continued in their footsteps and worked with Angola Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Frederick John Reed and Annie. H. Reed (Hale) were involved in mission work in China for over 30 years with the Methodist, then United Church. Their children were deeply involved in United Church activities, and especially, the “Missionary Kids” community of children of missionaries.

John and Betty Jean (BJ) (Neely) Klassen were a couple who were deeply involved in the United Church of Canada in various capacities.

John Klassen (1929-) was born in Saskatchewan. He graduated from United College at the University of Winnipeg with a B.A. (1951) and followed with a Diploma in Theology. Upon ordination by Manitoba Conference, he was settled at Sioux Lookout in Ontario from 1954-1958. Following that, he and his wife BJ both took a post-graduate year at Union Theological Seminary in New York (1959), then he returned to Wesley United Church in Welland from 1958-1964. While there, he held positions as Presbytery Chairman of Colleges and Students, Presbytery Christian Education Convenor, Chairman of the Vocations, and member of the National Board of Christian Education. These interests led to the acceptance of an appointment of Field Secretary for Christian Education for Manitoba Conference (1964-1968). He then returned to Kingston to work at St. Margaret’s Church from 1968-1977, where he was Chairman of the Bay of Quinte Conference Staff Committee, and a member of the Executive of the Conference and of the General Council Conference Staff Committee. He was Chairman of Kingston Presbytery and Chairman of the Committee on Candidates, and Professor/Director of Field Education at Queen’s Theological College. In 1986, he and his wife BJ became co-directors of Field Education at Emmanuel College.

Betty Jean (BJ) Neely (1929-2016) was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She attended elementary and high school in Fort Frances, then received a B.A. from United College, Winnipeg in 1954. Afterwards, she received a MRE degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1959), and a Master of Divinity from Queen’s Theological College in Kingston (1973). For a time, she was Bay of Quinte Conference staff with responsibility for Program and Leadership Development (1976-1985). In 1986 she and John became co-directors of Field Education at Emmanuel College. BJ was an ardent and dedicated volunteer with the church; taking part in The National Leadership Development Committee, The New Curriculum, The Task force on Sexuality and Morality, The Church and the World Commission, and The National Over-view Committee. She was also chair of the National Coordinating group for the United Church’s Study Program on Sexual Orientation, Lifestyles and Ministry. She was also deeply involved in her community and worked with the Ontario Welfare Council, Board of Directors of the Sunnyside Children’s Home in Kingston, was a member of the library board in Welland, and worked with unwed mothers, while being involved in CGIT, Student Christian Movement and Young People’s Movement. The Klassens had two children, Daphne and Gregory.

Harper Havelock Coates (1865-1934) and Agnes Wintemute Coates (1864-1945) were missionaries to Japan in the late nineteenth and earlier twentieth century. Agnes Wintemute Coates was born near St. Thomas, Ontario, in 1864. She studied at Normal School and Alma College (Mistress of Arts). She was sent by the Women's Missionary Society (Methodist) to Japan in 1886. She taught school until 1893, when she married Harper H. Coates and resigned from the Women's Missionary Society. She raised a family, and continued to teach school. She also studied and taught nutrition. She had many Japanese friends, converted to Ba'hai, and remained in Japan after her husband's death. She died in 1945. Harper Havelock Coates was born near Prescott, Ontario, in 1865. He studied at Victoria University (M.A., D.D.), and was ordained in 1888. He went to Japan (ca. 1890) as part of Dr. Eby's "Self-Support Band" and taught English in government schools until 1892. He was a missionary at Central Tabernacle, Tokyo, until 1902, Professor of Theology at Aoyama College until ca. 1914, and an evangelist at Hamamatsu and Kanazawa until his death in 1934. He was an expert in Japanese language and customs. He had a special interest in Buddhism, and he co-authored a major study of Honen, a Buddhist reformer. He also wrote poetry and music

Dr. Ralph Collins and Dr. Jean Collins were missionaries to Angola, Africa.

Ralph Collins was born in England, May 8 1892 and died September 30, 1970. He arrived in Canada at age 17 and received his B.A. from McGill in 1923 and his B.D. in 1925 from Congregational College. He would receive an honorary D.D. from the United Theological College in Montreal in 1946.

Dr. Collins was ordained in 1925 and arrived in Angola as a missionary in 1926 to take over from Dr. W.H. Sanders. In 1929 he married Miss Jean Gurd in Montreal and she worked alongside him in Angola. They served in Camundongo until 1947 when they were appointed to organize and direct Emmanuel Seminary in Dondi. Dr. Collins returned from Angola in 1958 and held various short positions as Retired Supply in Ottawa including Wesley, Permbroke, Larder Lake, Cardinal, South Mountain, Vars-Nava, Parkdale and Knox United.
Dr. Jean Collins was born in Montreal 1903 and received her English Degree from McGill University in 1925. She went on to complete her Masters and taught for four years in the English Department. She was an active member of the Church and engaged in the beginnings of the C.G.I.T. movement. After marriage to Dr. Ralph Collins she moved to Angola to work with him. After their retirement from Angola in 1959 she returned to Ottawa to work at Carleton University. Mrs. Collins was a nominee for Moderator in 1974 and in May 1975 she received an honorary D.D. from United Theological College in Montreal. Dr. Jean Collins dired March 29, 1994.

Edward Kyle Simpson M.D. was a Missionary to West China for the Methodist Church from 1912-1926. While in China he met and married Alice Lessing Estabrook in Chengtu Feb 17, 1916. Dr. Simpson was ordained in London Conference and left for China in 1912. In 1919 he took charge of the hospital at Junghsien for two years, then moved to Fowchow for medical work. Alice L. Estabrook was appointed by the W.M.M to West China in 1910. Alice became first Principal of the Union Normal School until 1916 when she resigned to be married to Dr. E.K. Simpson.

Both E.K. and Alice left China in 1926, they had two children Alice Janet (born 1917) and Wilda Pauline (born 1923).

Jean and Alfred Stone were United Church missionaries to Japan. Jean Gillespie was born in Parry Sound in 1900. She attended Normal School and the Methodist National Training School. In 1925, she was appointed to Japan as a missionary and in 1931, resigned to be married to Alfred Stone. After being widowed in 1954, Jean Stone served as Secretary to St. Luke's United Church in Toronto. She died in 1987. Alfred Stone was born in Highgate, Ontario, in 1902. He attended Victoria University and was ordained in 1926. He served as a missionary in Japan. Rev. Stone died in Japan in 1954 as a result of a ferry boat accident

Kathrina Vipond Roseveau Smith (Rena) was the daughter of Rev. John Vipond Smith. She received her B.A. from Victoria University in 1902 and her M.A. in 1908. From 1902 to 1906 she held a teaching position at Wesleyan High School, Grahamstown, South Africa. She married Rev. Richard Samuel Edgar Large, the brother of Rev. Thomas Alfred Large. Thomas Alfred Large was born in 1859. After his ordination, he became a missionary to Japan. He was murdered there in 1890 by burglars when he tried to defend the Toyo Eiwa Gakko girls' school in Tokyo. His wife, the former Eliza Spencer, was also injured in the incident, and she remained in Tokyo with their daughter Kate until 1895.

Gordon R. Jones (1885-1952) was born in Brantford, Ontario; volunteered for China at the Nashville Student Volunteer Convention in 1906; studied theology at Victoria College, 1907-1910; left for China in November 1910. In China, he served initially in Chengtu, Junghsien, Chungchow and Chungking. He married Clara E. German on August 30, 1914, at Karuizawa, Japan. He served with the Chinese Labour Corps in Europe during the First World War; and upon returning to China, continued to serve in Chungking, with a brief stay in Chengtu in the mid-1940s ; and returned to Canada in 1947. Clara E. (German) Jones (1887-1969) was born in Strathroy, Ontario. She graduated from the Methodist National Training School in 1913 and was appointed by the Woman's Missionary Society to Japan in 1913. She resigned in 1914 when she married Gordon R. Jones. Clara and Gordon Jones had two daughters, Eleanor and Barbara, and one son, Stephen.

Leonard and Christena were United Church missionaries to China. Leonard Mallory Outerbridge was born in Warwick, Bermuda in 1900. He attended school in Bermuda, becoming a specialist in tropical agriculture and head of the Department of Agriculture. He obtained his B.A. from Wabash College, Indiana, his D.D. from Queen's University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. He was ordained by the Bay of Quinte Conference in 1925. He went to China in 1925 for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and stayed for six years. In 1940, Leonard Outerbridge returned to Canada to serve as a minister in Saskatchewan. In 1949 he joined the Canadian Navy as chaplain. He died in 1960 as a result of a car accident. Christena Martyn was a high school teacher who attended Queen's University. She and Leonard Outerbridge were married in June 1925.

John Kaye was born in 1838 in Napanee, Ontario. In 1864, he married Eliza Gundy, daughter of Methodist New Connexion minister, William Gundy. John Kaye was ordained as a Methodist New Connexion minister in 1866. He served various circuits in Ontario and died in 1907. John Frederick Kaye was born in Waterdown, Ontario, in 1870. He was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1896. In 1901, he was married to Katharine Mennig. He served various churches in Ontario until his retirement in 1934. He died in 1941.

The Gundy family was a New Connexion family from Ireland. The father, William Gundy (1795-1870), and four of the sons, James (1831-1897), John, Samuel Bradley (1833-1873) and Joseph R. (1838-1916) became ministers.

William Gundy (1831-1897) was a Methodist minister in Ontario. The son of Rev. William Gundy, James Gundy was born in Ireland. Received on trial in 1859 and ordained in 1863, he served in Ontario as a Methodist New Connexion, and later Methodist, minister until his retirement in 1894.

Minnie J. Sanders was born Mary Jane Mawhir in Belfast, Ireland, in 1855. She was a missionary of the American Congregational Church to Angola. She arrived in Benguela in 1882 and the same year she married William Henry Sanders. She died in 1891. William Henry Sanders was born in Tillypally, Jaffna, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1856, the son of a missionary. He was educated in Massachussetts, and ordained a Congregational minister in 1880. He embarked for missionary work in Angola later that year, where he served until 1930. He was married to Mary Jane Mawhir, and then Sarah Bell. Rev. Sanders died in 1947.

Richard Orlando Jolliffe and his younger brother, Charles Julius Pasmore Jolliffe were, along with their families, Methodist and then United Church missionaries to China.

Duncan and Edith McRae were Presbyterian/United Church missionaries to Korea. Duncan Murdoch McRae was born in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, in 1868. He worked as a blacksmith, then studied at Dalhousie University and Presbyterian College (Pine Hill), Nova Scotia. He was ordained in 1898, and served as a missionary to Korea until his retirement in 1937. He died in 1949. Born in 1875, Edith F. Sutherland married Duncan Murdoch McRae in 1900. She founded a girl's primary school in Hamheung, Korea, and returned with her husband to Baddeck, Nova Scotia, in 1937. She died in 1956.

Mabel Hardy and Walter Edwin Pescott were married in 1892. As Walter Pescott served as a Methodist and then a United Church minister, the couple served various charges in Ontario: Burlington Plains, Port Colborne, Hamilton, Simcoe, Galt, Toronto, Windsor, London, Kitchener and Orillia, as well as in Winnipeg and Vancouver. They had one daughter, Aleda, born in 1918.