The EMILY LUCY ECCLES Trust Fund

The Emily Lucy Eccles Trust Fund is unique within The United Church of Canada. It has been established for the purpose of providing financial assistance to theological students from the Hamilton Conference of the United Church attending Emmanuel College, of the Toronto School of Theology.

The monies derive from the estate of John Henry Gibson Eccles, and are named in memory of his mother, Emily Lucy Eccles. Gib, as he was known by family and friends, was raised in Binbrook, Ontario. He joined Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton (later named Wesley United Church), and was active on the Church Board, serving in the capacity of a Steward.

He was employed for a time by the T. Eaton Company in Toronto, and later as a stock broker on Bay Street, commuting weekly from Hamilton to Toronto. He served during both World Wars as a Major in the medical corps of the armed services (RCAMC).

In early life, at his mother’s urging, Gib Eccles had seriously entertained the idea of entering the ministry of the Methodist Church. However, he believed that his true calling was into the business world, and he was obedient to that. His gift to the church was subsequently given in his mother’s memory.

In the late 50’s the Wesley United Church building was closed as a sanctuary to provide a place of beginning for the Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton. The congregation joined with Centenary United Church, and Gib Eccles began worshipping in Centenary. As recently as two weeks prior to his death on April 15th, 1964, he was doing so.

His wife Jane predeceased him by two months. They had no children. And in his Will, it was discovered that he had dedicated his entire estate to the support and encouragement of candidates for the ministry of The United Church of Canda, attending seminary in Toronto.

The Fund is administered by the Board of Trustees of Centenary United Church. The bursaries available in any given year are governed both by the amount of interest available and by the number of applicants. The Board of Trustees which in its management of the fund is accountable to the Public Trustee, endeavours each year to become acquainted with each student applicant. Its actions, excluding the names of recipients, are published in the Annual Report of Centenary United Church.

c:corresp/trustee/history 1998 October 2002