William Ramsay Armitage. 4th Principal (1940-59)

William Ramsay Armitage was born in St Catherines. His father was W.J. Armitage who had graduated from Wycliffe College in 1884. He received his BA from Dalhousie University in 1909. Armitage then taught in Calgary at the Western Canada College. In 1913 he received his MA from the University of Toronto. Also in 1913 he was ordained deacon and appointed assistant curate at the Church of the Messiah. In 1914 Armitage became an ordained priest. During World War I Armitage joined the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) as chaplain. When the war ended he taught in Hong Kong. Later he returned to the Church of the Messiah, he served there as curate, vicar, and rector. In 1925 Armitage received his BD from Wycliffe College. From 1921 to 1936 he taught at Wycliffe College. In 1936 he was appointed dean elect of Christ Church Cathedral. Armitage was appointed principal of Wycliffe College in 1940. He and his wife Molly remained at Wycliffe for the next 19 years. Under Armitage the Wycliffe Missionary society was reinstated.Starting in 1946 the relations between Trinity and Wycliffe improved. While at Wycliffe Armitage served as secretary on the Prayer Book Revision Committee. In 1959 he retired. Due to his dedicated service to Wycliffe College Armitage received a Doctor of Divinity from King's College, Halifax; Trinity College; Huron College, London; St John’s College, Winnipeg; Emmanuel College, Saskatoon; and the Anglican Theological College of British Columbia, as well as a Doctor of Laws from McMaster University. Upon his retirement Armitage became rector of Maple. He remained there for the next 22 years.