William Cochran was born in 1798, in Chillingham, Northumberland. He was ordained deacon December 19th, 1824, and was priested the following year by the Bishop of London. Shortly afterward he was married, and left with his bride for the Red River Settlement.
In the course of time, four children were born to them, one of whom, having graduated from Oxford, was ordained to the Ministry by Bishop David Anderson. He officiated in St. John's Church, and taught at St. John's Parochial School. When his father went to Portage la Prairie to establish a mission there, he accompanied him, and assisted in preaching and teaching. Owing to poor health he left for Toronto in 1864, and died shortly after his arrival in that city.
Mr. Cochran, on his arrival, immediately took charge of what is now St. John's Parish, officiating in the little wooden chapel built by John West. The great majority of his congregation were Presbyterians, Lord Selkirk settlers. Though Mr. Cochran's preaching was acceptable to this people they never became reconciled to the Church of England Liturgy, and it was deemed wise to make certain modifications in the church services in order to quiet their prejudice. When the first resident Presbyterian Minister, John Black, arrived here in 1851, three hundred of them left the church, yet they always spoke of Mr. Cochran in the most kindly manner.
Mr. Cochran gave his services almost exclusively to St. John's until 1830.
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