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Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario. |
Rev. John J. Lowe
1854 - 1951 (97 years)-
Name John J. Lowe Prefix Rev. Born 1854 , Staffordshire, England 
[1] Gender Male Interesting life story, religion Eby ID Number Waterloo-64994P Died 1951 [1] Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [1] Person ID I64994 Generations Last Modified 25 Apr 2024
Family Janet Waterston Thom Hamilton, b. 14 Dec 1865, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada , d. 22 May 1947, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada (Age 81 years) Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 Family ID F34127 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - Known as the "Marrying Parson", Rev. J. J. Lowe first came to Galt in 1911 as a singing evangelist. He was born in England on November 5, 1854 and emigrated with his family to the United States when he was still a boy. Rev. Lowe worked at a foundry and a knitting mill in New York before answering a call to spread the Christian message. He operated the YMCA in Philadelphia before becoming musical director at a large church in the same city. He remained in this position for the next fifteen years, at the same time assisting in the evangelistic work of hymn composers Dwight Lyman Moody and Ira Davis Sankey. Rev. Lowe also travelled as a singing evangelist with such figures as fire and brimstone preacher Billy Sunday. His travels took him to the southern United States, South and Central America and finally, in 1911 to Galt and Hespeler where he met the woman who was to become his wife. Upon his arrival in Galt, he worked, for a time, with the fledgling St. Andrews Presbyterian Mission on the west side of the city. He continued to serve as pastor's assistant in a number of churches in the United States before accepting ordination as a Presbyterian minister and installation as pastor of the newly formed St. Andrews Church in Galt in 1919. He was 64 years old at the time but served as pastor for twenty-three years, resigning in 1942 to make way for a younger man. His singing was the high light of his services and his last public singing service took place on October 28, 1946. During his time in the ministry in Galt and Hespeler, Rev. Lowe performed over 1,300 weddings and maintained his reputation as the "marrying parson" even into his 94th year. Rev. Lowe died on October 31, 1951 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery.
Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge
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BE MISSED
The death of Rev. J. J. Lowe "The Marrying Parson" will be mourned by several thousands of people in this district. The grand old gentleman of The Cloth, was kindly, sympathetic, possessor of an attractive appearance and a wonderful personality, qualities that could not help but make him popular, especially among the young people who "worshipped" him. St. Andrew's church is truly a memorial to him, since he made it what it is today. His singing high-lighted services and during his life he composed a number of hymns. No doubt it was his great interest in the young people, his sound and timely advice, that earned for him the title of "Marrying Parson", he having united over 1300 couples in the holy bonds of matrimony, a record for a clergy man in these parts. And the odd thing is that most of these marriages, were performed at his Hespeler home, couples from all over the district going there, to have this godly man make them man and wife. "J. J." has passed on, but his memory will live long. He first came to Galt, 40 years ago, as a singing evangelist and eight years later he was back to minister to the flock of St. Andrew's mission, now a healthy and growing Church. Today he goes to his last resting place, in Mount View Cemetery, in Galt, the city of his adoption, in which he labored as one of God's ministers, for 20 years, only retiring when old age forced him to.
Galt Reporter 1951
- Known as the "Marrying Parson", Rev. J. J. Lowe first came to Galt in 1911 as a singing evangelist. He was born in England on November 5, 1854 and emigrated with his family to the United States when he was still a boy. Rev. Lowe worked at a foundry and a knitting mill in New York before answering a call to spread the Christian message. He operated the YMCA in Philadelphia before becoming musical director at a large church in the same city. He remained in this position for the next fifteen years, at the same time assisting in the evangelistic work of hymn composers Dwight Lyman Moody and Ira Davis Sankey. Rev. Lowe also travelled as a singing evangelist with such figures as fire and brimstone preacher Billy Sunday. His travels took him to the southern United States, South and Central America and finally, in 1911 to Galt and Hespeler where he met the woman who was to become his wife. Upon his arrival in Galt, he worked, for a time, with the fledgling St. Andrews Presbyterian Mission on the west side of the city. He continued to serve as pastor's assistant in a number of churches in the United States before accepting ordination as a Presbyterian minister and installation as pastor of the newly formed St. Andrews Church in Galt in 1919. He was 64 years old at the time but served as pastor for twenty-three years, resigning in 1942 to make way for a younger man. His singing was the high light of his services and his last public singing service took place on October 28, 1946. During his time in the ministry in Galt and Hespeler, Rev. Lowe performed over 1,300 weddings and maintained his reputation as the "marrying parson" even into his 94th year. Rev. Lowe died on October 31, 1951 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery.
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Sources - [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
Lowe/ in loving memory of/ John J. / 1854-1951/ Janet H. / 1865-1947
- [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
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Event Map 
Born - 1854 - , Staffordshire, England 
Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada = Link to Google Earth
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