John Stephens of St. Philip's appointed Archdeacon of Vancouver

The incumbent rector of St. Philip’s Dunbar, in Vancouver, the Ven. John Stephens, has been appointed Archdeacon of Vancouver by Bishop Michael Ingham. Stephens follows in the footsteps of his late father, Bill Stephens, who was for a time rector of St. Philip’s, and the Archdeacon of Vancouver. Bill Stephens died in 2004.

John Stephens, after growing up in Vancouver and attending the University of BC, did theological studies at Huron College in London, Ontario, and the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad in Saskatoon.

He served a three point parish in the Diocese of Huron from 1991 to 1995, and then returned to Squamish to become the rector of St. John’s Squamish. In 2001 he moved to St. Philip’s.

Stephens replaces Archdeacon Andrew Pike, former rector of St. Anne’s Steveston in Richmond, who retired at the end of 2008. The Archdeaconry of Vancouver includes parishes on the west side of the City of Vancouver, in Richmond, and in Delta.