The Northern Clergy Families Fund began as the Northern Clergy Wives Holiday Fund in 1974. It was conceived and coordinated by the Canadian Mothers’ Union on behalf of the National Church. Its original purpose was to help the wives of clergy serving in the north, many of whom had moved there from the south, to travel there from time-to-time.

In 1986 the name of the fund was changed to the Northern Clergy Wives Discretionary Fund in order to broaden the fund’s support opportunities.

In 1992 the name was changed again, this time to The Northern Clergy Families Fund, which allows the fund to respond to the wider needs of families.

Donations to the fund come from a variety of Anglican sources including individuals, Mothers' Union and ACW branches, church guilds and parishes. Cheques for the fund in amounts from one dollar to hundreds of dollars express thank offerings and memorials or reflect specific fund raising initiatives.

Mothers' Union absorbs the fund's minimal administration costs in order that every penny donated goes to support the clergy families in need nominated by Bishops of the Council of the North. The bishops are contacted in rotation and asked to submit the names of two clergy families who could benefit from a bursary from the fund.

The Dioceses of the Council of the North:
The Arctic
Athabasca (Alberta)
Brandon (Manitoba)
Calendonia (British Columbia)
Keetwatin (Manitoba/Ontario)
Moosonee (Ontario/Québec)
Saskatchewan
Yukon
The Parishes of the Central Interior
Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (the Archdeaconry of Labrador only)

The photo above is from Dolores Lines (wife of Pastor Gordon Lines). They live in the community of Lytton, BC; a community of approximately 2500 people, 80% of whom are First Nations in the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior- the former Diocese of Cariboo. Mary Anne sent a gift to Dolores in January 2006 along with another clergy spouse. Dolores developed a Literacy Program for 6-12 year olds and their parents. The picture is Dolores with some of her reading children from the program.

NCFF Coordinator Joan Titus 1966 Gillespie Road Sooke, BC V9Z 0Z2