MountAllisan Univ. Coll. MountAl/isori Univ. Coll. Rev. Dr. William S. Godfrey Clem (Pickard) Godfrey

REV. WILLIAM STEPHEN GODFREY 1920 - 1924

Bill Godfrey, a man many thought a little less mortal than most others, died peaceably in the early hours of November 24 and, for a moment, Mount Allison’s

heart stopped beating.

In 75 years, the tall, wiry United Church parson had been student, athlete, coach, chaplain, fundraiser, cheerleader, counsellor, ambassador, and friend to just about everybody. People who had never been to Sackville, N.B., knew and admired Mount Allison because they knew and admired Bill Godfrey.

Rev. Godfrey was born in 1880 and came south from Chatham, NE. in 1910 to finish high school at the Academy and, discovering he liked the place, stayed on for the next four years to complete requirements for his Bachelor of Arts degree. He

was graduated in 1914, the same year that Clementine Pickard was graduated. They were married a couple of years later.

Ordained to the Methodist ministry in 1916, he went off to war as a private in the 236th Kiltie Battalion, transferring later to the 44th Winnipeg Battalion, later again to a Chaplaincy to the Epsom Downs Hospital at the end of the First World

War.

Back in Canada, he served congregations in Alberton, P.E.I., Campbellton, N.B. and Westville, N.S. before leaving the full-time pastorate to become Mount

Allison’s first pastor to students.

From 1920 to 1924, Rev. William Godfrey was in charge of the Alberton, P.E.l. Circuit, including Miminegash, where he was extremely popular with all ages of the members. He is well—remembered for his athletic interest in Alberton, P.E.l.

where he formed a hockey team called “The Regals.”

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