The Influence of Dr. J. E. Purdies Reformed Anglican Theology on the Formation and Development of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
[Article]
Peter Althouse
Leiden
Brill
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) has had many similarities with its United States counterpart, the Assemblies of God. In fact, in its early years the PAOC was affiliated with the Assemblies of God.1 Yet the PAOC was unique in that it had a friendly relationship with the Anglican Church of Canada2 vis-à-vis the Toronto low-church Anglican theological school, Wycliffe College.3 This relationship centered on one man, a Wycliffe College graduate and Anglican priest, who was asked to be principal of the first Canadian Pentecostal Bible school in 1925, a position he held until 1950. This man was James Eustace Purdie, arguably the most influential person in the formation and development of PAOC doctrine through the theological education of Pentecostal ministers.4 The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) has had many similarities with its United States counterpart, the Assemblies of God. In fact, in its early years the PAOC was affiliated with the Assemblies of God.1 Yet the PAOC was unique in that it had a friendly relationship with the Anglican Church of Canada2 vis-à-vis the Toronto low-church Anglican theological school, Wycliffe College.3 This relationship centered on one man, a Wycliffe College graduate and Anglican priest, who was asked to be principal of the first Canadian Pentecostal Bible school in 1925, a position he held until 1950. This man was James Eustace Purdie, arguably the most influential person in the formation and development of PAOC doctrine through the theological education of Pentecostal ministers.4