Isaac Stringer

Isaac O Stringer

Isaac O Stringer^[1] (April 19, 1866 – October 30, 1934) was a Canadian Anglican bishop.^[2]

Stringer was born in Kingarf, Ontario. He attended University College and Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and received a BA degree in 1891. While at University College he served as Recording Secretary of the University College Literary and Scientific Society.

In 1892 he accepted a posting as a missionary to the Canadian Arctic and spent the majority of his life in northern Canada.^[3] In 1905 he was consecrated the second Bishop of Selkirk in the Yukon,^[4] a position he held until 1931 when he was named Archbishop of Rupert's Land and relocated to Winnipeg where he died on October 30, 1934.

Stringer was known during his life as "The Bishop Who Ate His Boots" as a result of an incident during a tour of his diocese in 1909. Running low on provisions, he found that the seal skin of his boots was sufficient as emergency sustenance.^[5]

One of Isaac O Stringer's great-grandsons is Todd Mayhew. Todd and his wife, Sivan Agam, are the Australian/ British alternative folk duo The April Maze; they have written a song about Stringer's boot-eating story called "The Bishop Who Ate His Boots".

References

1. His middle name was just the letter "O", The Times, 31 October 1934; pg. 16; Issue 46899; col E, The Archbishop Of Rupert's Land Missionary Work
2. “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991, ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
3. "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, John Phillips, 1900
4. Bishops of Yukon
5. "Yukon Nuggets"

External links

• Canadian Virtual Museum webpage on Stringer
• A video recording of The April Maze's song "The Bishop Who Ate His Boots" on YouTube