Rest in Peace: The Most Rev. David Crawley

With sorrow, and gratitude for his faithful ministry, we announce the death of the Most Rev. David Crawley on Sunday, August 17, 2025. We ask that you keep his beloved wife, Joan, and daughters Hope, Sarah, and Rachael in your prayers through this difficult time.

David Crawley was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba and spent his childhood in northern Alberta and northern Ontario.  He earned a BA from the University of Manitoba and an MA from the University of Kent at Canterbury.  He also received two honorary degrees from St. John’s College, Winnipeg.

 

He was ordained priest in 1962 in the Diocese of Edmonton and served in St. Thomas’, Sherwood Park; All Saints’, Edmonton; St. Matthew’s, Winnipeg (also as Archdeacon of Winnipeg and subsequently Archdeacon of Rupert’s Land); St. Michael & All Angels with St. Matthew, Foxleigh-Winnetka; and St. Paul’s, Vancouver. 

 

In 1990, he was elected the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of Kootenay, and four years later, elected the 9th Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC & Yukon. In 2001, he also assumed responsibility for the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior, formerly the diocese of Cariboo.  In 2004, he served as acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada between the primacies of The Most Rev. Michael Peers and The Most Rev. Andrew Sandford-Hutchison.  He retired in November 2004.

 

He served on many committees at the diocesan and provincial levels.  He was also involved in National Church governance, including the Editorial Committee for the Book of Alternative Services (Vice-Chair); the Residential Schools Working Group; the House of Bishops’ Task Force on Homosexuality; the Residential Schools Steering Committee (Chair); and as part of the Residential School Negotiating Team Group.

 

He was also active in municipal affairs, such as the Edmonton Social Planning Council (Vice-President); the Edmonton Women’s Shelter (Chair); and the Vancouver Women’s Drop-in Centre, among others.  He was an interviewer and story editor for the CBC; a television interviewer for CTV Winnipeg, and was involved in television writing and production for the Regina Amateur Theatre. Since retirement, he has been an honorary assistant at St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral, Kelowna.