Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson
1978-1983
Rev. Dr. Roy Wilson and his wife, The Right Rev. Dr. Lois Wilson grew up in Winnipeg. They attended United College in Winnipeg. From 1951-4, Roy served as secretary to the Student Christian Movement at the University of Manitoba and was elected President of Manitoba Conference in 1963. He received a Doctorate Divinity from University of Manitoba in 1971. Roy was a member of the executive of the United Church and was elected a delegate to seven General Councils. He and Lois served in Thunder Bay and then were called to Hamilton where their church burned down two days after Roy’s induction. They arranged to have their congregation share quarters with a nearby Anglican church. The result was the establishment of First Place, a residential, commercial and social centre with apartments for senior citizens, handicapped people and married overseas students. Rev Roy Wilson was inducted in September 1978 with a very innovative service format creatively developed by Alex Bryans and his committee. After the November anniversary discussions, the pastoral relations committee recommended that Rev. Lois Wilson be appointed associate minister. In 1981 Mrs. Wilson was elected the first woman moderator of the United Church of Canada, as well as president of the Canadian Council of Churches, a member of the World Council of Churches and a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Later, The Rt. Rev. Lois Wilson was appointed to the Canadian Senate. In 1983, Dr. Roy Wilson was called to Timothy Eaton United Church in Toronto. He died in Toronto after serving as a faithful minister of the United Church of Canada for over 40 years.
