John Burn

Who was John Burn?

The Rt Rev William John Burn DD, MA was an Anglican Colonial Bishop in the late 19th century.

Burn was born in Durham, England and educated at St John's College, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1875. His first posts were curacies at St Andrew’s, Chesterton and St Paul, Jarrow. From 1881 to 1893 he was Vicar of St Peter’s, Jarrow then St Edwin Coniscliffe

In 1893 Burn was elevated to the Episcopate as the second Bishop of Qu’Appelle. He arrived to take up his post Burn arrived in Qu'Appelle, Assiniboia on 20 May of that year, soon moved Bishop's Court from Qu'Appelle to Indian Head some 15 kilometres to the east, and served there until his death. He died at Indian Head and was buried at Qu'Appelle, whose parish church had retained pro-cathedral status.

Burn had a positive influence on the Anglican Diocese of Qu'Appelle in his short tenure. He improved the unity of the prairie Anglicans and also put the Diocese on a more secure economic footing.