Archbishop Fergus McEvay

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Fergus McEvay was born in Lindsay, Ontario on December 8, 1852. He received his classical education at St. Michael's College and the University of Toronto, and took theology at the Grand Seminary, Montreal. On July 9, 1882, he was ordained priest by Bp. James Cleary of Kingston in Trenton, Ontario. Until 1899, Father McEvay served as a priest in the dioceses of Kingston, Peterborough and Hamilton. In 1892, he was appointed a Privy Chamberlain by Pope Leo XIII.

Father McEvay was appointed Bishop of London, Ontario on May 27, 1899 and consecrated in London by Abp. O'Connor of Toronto on August 6, 1899.

On April 13, 1908, Bishop McEvay was appointed Archbishop of Toronto. While Archbishop, he accomplished much for his diocese and the church in Canada. Seven new parishes were established and ten new church buildings constructed. Archbishop McEvay also founded the Canadian Catholic Church Extension Society.

Arguably one of His Grace's most notable achievements was the creation of St. Augustine's Seminary. The cornerstone was laid and blessed by Archbishop McEvay on October 23, 1910. Unfortunately, he did not live to see it completed. Suffering from a blood disease since his arrival in Toronto, Archbishop McEvay finally succumbed to this illness on May 10,1911. His body was interred in Regina Cleri Cemetery at St. Augustine's Seminary.