Russell Grant Fry, Jr

Russell Grant Fry, Jr 19 June 1971

The Rev'd Benjamin Charles Eckardt, LL.D., D.D. (1902 to 1993), long time pastor of First Church of Christ (Disciples), 430 Elizabeth Street, London, Ontario discovered the FPEC at about the same time as Dr Moffatt in a similiar manner. When Dr Boltwood arrived in the USA at the start of his 1958 tour to establish the FPEC in North America, Dr Eckardt met him in New York City and was consecrated by him as FPEC Bishop of Ontario in that city on 16 August 1958. On 23 October 1968 Dr Eckardt was elevated to the position of Archbishop of Ontario by Primus Boltwood. In August of 1982 he was appointed to succeed Dr Moffatt as Metropolitan Archbishop for the Dominion of Canada and Northern Territories shortly after Dr Moffatt assumed the office of Primus. Archbishop Eckardt was industrious in the work for the FPEC. At the time of his death on 18 January 1993 in his 91st year he had clergy/missions in the following Ontario communities: London (Rev'd Dcn. Matthew J.C. Tuz), Toronto (Ven. Arcdcn. Arthur Downes, Rev'd Frederic Albert Scott [1914 to Sept. 2004], Rev'd Paul Refalo, & Rev'd Paul John Tuz [1929 to 16 June 2012]), Holland Centre (Rev'd William Joseph Coke [1924 to June 2009]), Owen Sound (Rev'd Lewis A. Short), and Windsor (Rev'd Michael Frank Stoyka). After his consecration, Dr Eckardt maintained a basically Anglican form of worship at 430 Elizabeth Street. Unfortunately, after Dr Eckardt's death his London congregation reverted back to the Disciples of Christ. However, the congregation reveres Dr Eckardt's memory and to this day his portrait, dressed in his episcopal rochet and chimere, hangs in the church building.

In June of 1971 a FPEC synod was held in London, Ontario, probably as a lead up to the main FPEC conferance which was held later in New York City in October of that same year. At the London synod three bishops for the USA branch of the Church were consecrated in +Eckardt's church. On 18 June 1971 Gordon Albert Da Costa was consecrated by Primus Dr Boltwood and Bishops Benjamin Charles Eckardt, Charles K.S.S. Moffatt, Albert John Fuge Sr., and William Carson Thompson. On 19 June 1971 William Elliot Littlewood (1910 to 1978) and Russell Grant Fry were consecrated by the same bishops as above plus Bishop Da Costa. Just to confuse the record, on the new bishops' consecration certificates different official chief consecrators and assistants were listed (mix and match) even through all bishops present were involved in the laying on of hands. From these three bishops the orders of the FPEC entered many other churches as shown below: