Richard John Bowen (1868-1952) trained with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) at Islington College, London in 1894.  He was ordained deacon in 1897 and priest in 1898.  Bowen was a CMS missionary in the Diocese of Selkirk (now Diocese of Yukon) ministering among the indigenous people and gold seekers during the Yukon gold rush in Whitehorse.  He was Rector of the first parish St. Paul’s Church in the Yukon Territory, 1898-1903.  Bowen also served in Nanaimo and Ladysmith, BC, 1903-1907.  He was the Organizing Secretary for the Western Ontario District of the Canadian Bible Society, 1907-1925 amd was licensed in the Diocese of Huron from 1930-1952.

Fonds consists of a notebook of various words and meanings translated from English to a native dialect and vice versa.  Easter anthem titled “They Have Taken Away My Lord”.  A testimonial to Bowen from St Paul’s Church, Dawson City.  A Holy Bible and a copy of the New Testament.  A history of Bowen’s communion set written by his wife.  Photographs of various people, streets, buildings and towns in the Yukon Territory. Miscellaneous items include a piece of altar linen and an ivory or bone knife.

Title based on contents of fonds

The communion set has been lent to the Yukon Church Heritage Society.