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Bishop Sperry dead at 87 Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Friends and family are remembering the longtime Anglican bishop of the Arctic who died Feb. 11 in Hay River at age 87. Many recall an inspiring figure who embraced the aboriginal culture and laid much of the groundwork for the Anglican Church in the North during the post-war period.
"It is definitely the end of an era," said friend and protege, Tom Buckle, the former Bishop of the Yukon. He pointed out that Sperry, who lived in Yellowknife for many years until recently, was one of the last ministers known to transport pharmaceuticals and medical supplies by dogsled while serving his diocese.
Sperry first arrived in Kugluktuk (Coppermine) as a newly-ordained Anglican minister in 1950 and married his wife Elizabeth at the hamlet's mission church two years later. They spent 19 years in Kugluktuk, before moving to Fort Smith where Sperry spent four years as minister.
After Sperry replaced Bishop Donald Marsh in 1973, he oversaw the Anglican Arctic Diocese and represented the Anglican Church in all of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as the northern top third of Quebec.
He served as a bishop for 16 years before retiring in 1990. Much of this experience was documented in his memoir, Igloo Dwellers Were My Church, which was published in 2001.
Further documentation is provided in a DVD called The Light of the North, which was put together by family and friends for his 85th birthday in 2009. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2002 and was named as one of the recipients for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals last week before his death.
"He was fluent in the local language and did a lot of translation work (in the local Copper dialect) with the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as hymns and Common Book of Prayer," Buckle said. "It was a major amount of work."
Sperry's son John remembers growing up with his sister Angela in a very positive atmosphere in the family.
"We had the best childhood," he said. "We came from a loving home but the community looked after everybody. It was a time when there wasn't a lot of trouble. The thing about growing up in the Arctic was the freedom. We had the 24-hour daylight and we were on the go 24-7, despite the long, cold winters."
Sperry's family describe him as a very modest man who aimed to learn about the traditions of the Arctic and to spread the word of Jesus Christ. Acting ministers and bishops describe him as an important leading figure for the Anglican Church in the North.
"In his role in the Anglican Church of Canada, he was a very influential bishop," Buckle said.
"He was well-respected across the country and his dedication to working in the Arctic was incredible. He gave his whole life."
Buckle himself had come to the Arctic in 1966 to work in Holman and during that time encountered Sperry, who was very accommodating and knowledgeable, he said. The two remained close until Sperry's last days.
"He was a tremendous help to me and my wife when we first arrived in the Arctic. Full of information and advice. I just knew he was there for me all the time," Buckle said.
Buckle stayed in the Diocese of the Arctic in the NWT and later headed the Yellowknife Anglican Church for eight years. He was assistant bishop of the Diocese of the Arctic for a period and became elected bishop of the Yukon in 1995.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church minister Ron McLean similarly remembers Sperry as one who could be relied on for help with his work. McLean came to Yellowknife in January 2006 and was consecrated as a priest that March.
"At the time he said to me, 'You have to come for tea and a talk,'" said McLean. "It was one of the best talks with a bishop and he became one of the very best mentors that I had."
McLean said during Sperry's retirement, the latter had been an active member of Holy Trinity, including leading bible studies and preaching.
Sperry was also the NWT/Nunavut representative for the United Nations International Year of the Older Persons, chaplain at Stanton Hospital, the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Forces Northern Area chaplain.
Sperry is survived by two children, John and Angela, four grandchildren, Olivia, Elizabeth, Andrew, and Katherine, two great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Medow. His wife died in 2001.
The memorial service will be held at the Shorty Brown Arena in the Multiplex at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Yellowknife. McLean said because they expect an estimated 1,000 people to attend, a larger venue was needed. Holy Trinity Anglican Church can only hold 350 people and most of the schools are holding sports tournaments.
A number of bishops from across the North are expected to be in attendance including Bishop Buckle, Larry Robertson, area bishop of the Mackenzie and Kitikmeot region, and Andrew Atagotaaluk, bishop of the Arctic.
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