Interview of Frank Ward

Frank Ward May 29 2012 Frank Hamden Ward, born in Toronto Aug 24, 1926. Fourth of five children. Siblings: Tommy (passed in 1924 at 5 years old), Jean Emma (born 1921, passed in 2002), Robert "Harry" Harrington (born 1922, passed in 2004), Mary (still living on a farm near Orangeville at time of interview). Father: Thomas John Ward, born in Nantwich, Cheshire, England in 1874. . Lived in Alderney in the Channel Islands until age 9, father John operated a store in Alderney. When the British discontinued their military presence in the area in 1883, the family moved to Toronto, Ontario, where Thomas later worked with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Worked for Consumer Gas. Passed away in 1935, when Frank was 9 years old. Paternal Grandfather: John Ward, owned a shop in Alderney. Mother: Edith Janet Henderson, born in Milhaven, Ontario in 1887. One sister, Anna, passed early on in life. Legal secretary for Bowlby & Bowlby in Toronto. Married in May 1917, moved into home address in 1919, where she continued to live until 1948, after her husband passed in Nov 1935. She was left with 4 kids to care for, and decided to give up her career to raise them. She tried to apply for their house to be turned into a duplex for rental, but was denied because she was a widowed woman. Maternal Grandfather: John Colin Henderson, born outside Quebec City in 1834, passed in 1891. Maternal Grandmother: Henrietta MacAllen, from Mull of Kintyre. Had a home in the Kilmartin area overlooking the sea. Married John in 1883. Father named John MacAllen from Kilmartin, Mother from north Kintyre. Maternal Great-Grandfather: John Henderson, came to Canada 1800, married Christie MacEllan in 1813 in the Church of Scotland. Passed in 1863. The "reform laws" of the 1800s opened up the playing field for citizens in the Colonies to sell goods back to Britain. Were well-off upon leaving Scotland. He had his own ships to send goods back and forth. Operator of mill-sites (sawmill, nail mill, etc.) and owned a whiskey distillery. One of these mills was still standing when Frank was a boy. The MacAllan side of the family were Gaelic speakers. Frank can remember men working for 50 cents a day during the Depression. A cousin of his, Norman Trott, convinced him to attend Northern Secondary School in Toronto. He worked for a year at an investment company called Watt & Watt, where a partner of the firm named Roy Wilson took him under his wing. He advised Frank to return to school, and so he attended the University of Western Ontario. While at Watt, he learned to consider the value of risk. He took a general course, as he was considering joining the ministry at the time, and received a Bachelor's of Arts. Frank's mother had been quite dedicated to her bible study course, which left an impression on him. He attended church every Sunday of his own free will. Ended up studying theology at a 2 year bible college in Ontario. He wrote to the college in Edinburgh, and was accepted to study there. Walter MacLeary assisted him in arranging travel to Scotland. A crew had lost a sailor after he abandoned ship, and Walter got Frank the job working on the ship over to Scotland, which meant the trip didn't cost him a cent. It was an old Liberty Ship. He struggled with the "miserable, rainy weather", and was sick a lot. He completed his Theology in Edinburgh, then moved to Glasgow for 2 years, where he was an associate minister at St. James parish of the Church of Scotland. Returned to Canada in 1957. His first church in Ontario was a Presbyterian church. He compares the difference between Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in terms of building design, etc. He had attended Deer Park Presbyterian Church as a child, until his father passed away, they began attending Calvin Presbyterian Church. Frank married his wife Elizabeth July 31 1956. They met at St. Christopher's Church in Edinburgh in 1954. They were married in Mayfield North Church by Minister James White. She had to "flee from her house" as her Jewish parents were unhappy with her decision to marry Frank. They chose to move back to Canada together, Frank came over in October, Elizabeth followed in November. They were involved with running a church for a few months. Westmount United Church in Oshawa from 1959 – 1966. Moved to Burnaby, British Columbia, and remained with the same church until 1986. He was also involved with the Burnaby North Community Association, and the building of a community centre in the area and the blocking of major high-rise development on East Hastings. Frank ran for mayor of Burnaby at one point and won most of the ridings in North Burnaby, but not the position. Frank is living with Leukemia to the time of this interview. Frank discusses the difference in attendance levels at churches in the Maritimes versus churches in Ontario. In his experience, the attendance was lower in provinces further to the West. He talks about St. James Church in Govan, Glasgow, and how the number of churches in Scotland has decreased over time. He said you could hear the roar of the Glasgow Rangers [Football Club] Fans from Govan. Frank has 2 relatives still in Scotland, he has travelled back at least 10 times, and plans to go back again. He feels Iona is an interesting place in terms of religious history. There were 56 different Presbyterian churches in Scotland prior to 1929, at which point many amalgamated to the United Presbyterian Church. The Church of Scotland is predominant in many areas, where the Free Presbyterian Church is dominant in the Highlands. Frank notes that in areas where the Free Church is the main denomination, many people will draw their blinds on Sundays for the Sabbath, and ferries will not travel (such as to the Isle of Lewis). However, these people will not abstain from drinking. Frank owns spectrophotometers from his great-grandfather's distillery (for measuring sugar content) which have been in the business since 1812. Frank describes the Roman Catholic churches presence in Scotland in the 1700's as an "ethnic cleansing". He talks about the overall decline in church attendance in Canada over time, and notes that Pentecostal churches have not seen the same declines. He describes a decline in men entering the priesthood or attending theological studies, which he has seen in Vancouver. He provides a modest estimate that 10% of people are attending church regularly on Sunday in the Pacific Northwest. Frank's feelings of "Scottishness" come from his time spent in Scotland – when he is there (particularly in the Highlands and in Glasgow), he feels at home, and is accepted as such. He describes the "Hielanman's Umbrella" in Glasgow. Politics and religion were not major subjects of conversation in his family. He owns quite a few Scottish books, including writings by his family members. Daughter: Helen Ward. Does a lot of radio work and newspaper articles, as well as teaching English as a Second Language. Son: James Ward. Enjoys Scottish events such as Burns Dinners. Married a Mexican woman. He goes to the Scottish Cultural Center with his sons Santiago and Tomas. Santiago is one of the best in his age and division in B.C. for track and field. Favourite relative was Uncle Harold Babcock. He was mayor of Bath for a number of years. He was a very understanding and realistic man, who spoke with a great deal of respect and acceptance for people. Frank Ward hasn't given much thought to the Scottish Nationalist Party and the 2014 referendum for independence, but he knows many people who are in favour of it. He thinks the desire for independence goes across political party lines.