J. C. Tolmie

Who was J. C. Tolmie?

Reverend Major James Craig Tolmie was a Canadian politician, presbyterian clergyman, military chaplain and soldier.

He was born in Oxford County, Canada West as the son of another presbyterian minister, Reverend Andrew Tolmie. His father had served in Oxford County at Innerkip Presbyterian Church and Ratho Church Blandford Township, since his graduation from Toronto's Knox College in 1852. Shortly after James' birth, the family moved to the shores of Lake Huron at Southampton, where his father became minister of the Canada Presbyterian Congregations in Southampton, Tara, and West Arran/Burgoyne, and served until his retirement in 1897, and death in 1907.

James C. Tolmie, followed in his father's footsteps, graduating from University of Toronto in Arts and Law in 1885, and Knox College in 1888. He worked at St. Andrew's Church in London, Ontario, and was then ordained and inducted into First Presbyterian Church, Brantford in April 1889. In early 1894, he was called to Windsor, Ontario to the St. Andrew's congregation, where he resigned early in 1915.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1914 as the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for Windsor. He resigned from the Pastorate at St. Andrew's, and was appointed minister Emeritus.