Rev. Canon Charlie Masters - Bio

Canon Masters received his undergraduate degree in Physical Sciences from the University of Guelph in 1973, and also completed a teaching certificate as a High School Mathematics and Science teacher from the University of British Columbia.

While Charlie was serving with the Navigators on the campus of UBC, he perceived a call to the ordained ministry, and in the fall of 1975, he began his theological studies at St. John’s College, Nottingham, UK. He and his wife Judy were married at Christmastime that year and lived in England for the next two and a half years. In 1978, they returned to Canada where Charlie was ordained in the Diocese of Niagara.

After two years in a Curacy in Burlington, Ontario, Charlie, Judy and their young son Matthew moved ten miles north to the Parish of St. George’s, Lowville and St. John’s Nassagaweya, where Charlie has been rector since 1980. Finally, in 1982, Charlie and Judy were blessed with a daughter, Suzie.

Since then, there have been many exciting developments in the parish, such as the development of a youth ministry called Reach for the Light (RFL) and later an outreach initiative called Reach, a building program in 1990, the formation of a lay training school called Kairos, the development of lay training for Pastoral Visitors, and many missionary trips including a six month move to Europe for the Masters’ family, where Charlie travelled and taught in Eastern Europe and Russia.

In the fall of 2000, encouraged by the Vestry of St. George’s, Charlie wrote an Open Letter/Booklet to all Anglicans across the country called; “Don’t be afraid. The Gospel still Works!”

The publication and distribution of these little booklets moved the Parish into a growing heart and concern for the Anglican Church of Canada that finally resulted in the Parish releasing Charlie to serve part of his ministry as National Director of Essentials while remaining rector of St. George’s..

In addition to all this, since September 2002, Canon Masters has travelled extensively across the country and internationally, serving as part of the Anglican Essentials team.