Cleric.
Born at Essex, England on 26 December 1927 to Ethel Margaret Purkiss (1893-1972) and Henry J. Valentine (1896-1990), he was educated at Brentwood School and St. John’s College, Cambridge. He received an honours degree in history and divinity at St. John’s College in 1949, a licentiate in Theology from the Montreal Diocesan Theological College in 1951, and a Bachelor of Divinity at McGill University (Montreal) in 1951. He later received a master’s degree from St. John’s College at Cambridge, and a Doctor of Divinity from St. John’s College at Winnipeg. In 1952, he married Mary Currell Hayes (1931-2016) and they went on to have four children.
Ordained as a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal in 1952, he began his career as a curate at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, and then the incumbent at Chateauguay-Beauharnois, Quebec. He was Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Montreal, then Rector of Saint Lambert. Later, he became Dean of Montreal, serving in that capacity until he was ordained to the Episcopate as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land in 1970, based in Winnipeg.
In his episcopacy, he was regarded a transformational and visionary. He initiated Diocesan Festivals that brought people of all areas of the Diocese together for education and fellowship; allowed baptized children to attend communion; reactivated theological education at St. John’s College (Winnipeg); developed a sabbatical leave policy for clergy; instituted an annual Clergy Residential Conference; was instrumental in establishing the Rupert’s Land Capital Fund for grants and loans to parishes; performed the first ordinations of women in Rupert’s Land; and met regularly with leaders of other denominations, which led to Anglican-Roman Catholic clergy gatherings.
At the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in England in 1978, he presented a paper called “Women in Ministry,” which argued that a proper affirmation of the femininity of ministry was essential to a balanced experience for the church. While attending the conference, he was also able to play on a cricket team of bishops, leading his team to win handily due to a cricket swing he had developed while a student at Cambridge University. His son, John Valentine, played international cricket for the Canadian national side, and took Canada’s first wicket in One Day Internationals in 1979.
He retired from his role as Bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land in 1982. From 1985-1988, he served as Assistant Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, and then moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Having always had a passion for music and experience in playing organ, he served as rector, organist, and choir director of the Anglican Parish of Salt Spring Island, and enjoyed performing frequent organ recitals.
He died at Salt Spring Island, British Columbia on 16 October 2009.
“Barry Valentine Transformed Rupert’s Land,” Rupert’s Land News, December 2009.
“Barry Valentine,” Valentine Family Tree, Ancestry.
“Barry Valentine,” various contributors, Wikipedia.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 28 August 2025
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