From St. Mark’s, Rev. Tanton returned to Prince Edward Island, having been appointed 1 archdeacon of the province and rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Charlottetown. He was the ‘ first native Islander to hold the senior Anglican post in the province. The appointment was made by Rt. Rev. R.H. Waterman, Bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia. In this position which he held for six years, Rev. Tanton provided strong leadership, not only at St. Peter’s, but all across the Island. A particular area of improvement was the reformation and revitalization of the Diocesan Church Society.

Rev. Tanton was forced to retire at the end of 1973 due to failing health. Despite his condition, he continued to take a strong interest in church affairs and was a familiar figure at Synods and theological conferences. He served on the advisory board of The Anglican Free m from its inception in 1984.

The Venerable G. Stavert Tanton, DD, passed away in Halifax on March 12, 1977, at the age of 77. His funeral eucharist was celebrated at All Saints’ Cathedral by the Rt. Rev. Arthur Peters, Bishop of Nova Scotia,who was assisted by the retired Bishop of Nova Scotia, Rt. Rev. George F. Arnold, Suffragan Bishop Russel Hatton, forty-five robed priests of the Diocese of Nova Scotia, and a very large congregation.

Some highlights in the career of George Stavert Tanton include:

1939 - He had the honor of extending a welcome to Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada, upon the occasion of his visit to the Dartmouth Services Canteen in Christ Church Parish Hall.

1955 - He was one of the first Canadians to receive the rural fellowship award of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.

1960 - He was made a Canon of All Saints’ Cathedral in recognition of his services to the church in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and beyond.

1967 — He preached a sermon before Her Majesty the Queen on her visit to Charlottetown in Centennial Year.

The Venerable G.S. Tanton was interviewed for the April 1975 edition of The Diocesan Times. He told the following story about his days in the Parish of Port Hill:

I think, George Williams, if he hears this, will remember how the horse kicked the dashboard off the sleigh, and he used to say, "When could he make me another sleigh?" I used to put my horse up at his place in Poplar Grove as I was going up to Lot 11. Our first midnight mass was at Lot 11 and I stayed up with John W. and Mrs. Palmer and their family. That night (that was the first

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