Elmore Harris

Elmore Harris (b. February 23, 1855 Beamsville, Ontario – d. December 19, 1911 Delhi, India). He was notable as the founder of the Walmer Road Baptist Church and one of the founders of Toronto Bible Training School in 1894 which soon changed its name to Toronto Bible College (now Tyndale University College and Seminary).

Elmore Harris was the son of Alanson Harris (founder of A. Harris, Son & Co. Ltd.) & Mary Morgan. Elmore’s paternal grandfather was John Harris an early Baptist pastor whose family had emigrated from New York state to the Oxford County area. Elmore's grandfather John Harris served in pastorates at Westminster (Middlesex County) and afterwards at Townsend (Haldimand County). Elmore’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Morgan a minister originally from Wales who served in the U.S. and then in Southwestern Ontario. Elmore Harris married (September 7, 1877 at Brantford) Ruth Davidson Shenston (1858–1910). Ruth was the daughter of Thomas Strahan Shenston of whom the Shenstone Memorial Baptist Church in Brantford, Ontario is named. (See http://shenstonechurch.com). Together they had 5 children: Burton Shenstone, b. June 11, 1878; Helen Mary, b. February 1, 1881 (who became the mother of E. Harris Harbison); Frederick Morgan, b. June 12, 1886; Frank Elmore, b. December 7, 1890; Erdman Gordon, b. December 17, 1898. Elmore Harris was an uncle to Canadian painter Lawren Harris. Elmore remarried to Olive Marion Culham on September 6, 1911 in Toronto.

He received his early education at the High School, Beamsville, and subsequently at St. Catharines Collegiate Institute. In 1877 Elmore Harris obtained a B.A. from the University of Toronto having previously left behind the family business to pursue pastoral studies. At the McMaster convocation in May 1899 the degree of Doctor of Divinity, D.D. was conferred.

From 1876 – February 1882 Elmore served at Centre Street Baptist Church, St. Thomas where he succeeded Mr. Hurd. During his pastorate at Centre St. the membership nearly tripled and they built a new building. February 1882 – October 15, 1889 Elmore served at Yorkville Baptist Church helping the church to expand into larger facilities at Bloor Street Baptist Church. (see Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (Toronto)). October 20, 1889 – November 27, 1895 Elmore served in the pastorate at Walmer Road Baptist Church.

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