R. B. McElheran

R.B. McElheran’s principalship (1930-9) spanned a period of crisis, both in society at large and in the church in particular, without precedent in the modern ‘first world’. The Great Depression first and foremost, produced horrifying material adversity and spiritual despair. McElheran took up his duties at Wycliffe when it was the largest theological college in Canada of a religious tradition to which he personally was totally committed, a theological conscience of the church. Such changes as McElheran set out to make can be briefly summarized. First, he stabilized the college’s finances, which were dangerously tied to shaky investments, more by cutting costs than by trying to wring money from the church in the midst of the Depression. Second, he tightened academic standards. For instance, the college became more selective in its admission. Third, McElheran introduced into the curriculum an honors program, a lecture series in church architecture, church music, and first aid, examinations of student’s familiarity with the English Bible, and a course called “The Principal’s Hour’. Finally, McElheran set out to improve student’s elocution. McElheran’s style of leadership at Wycliffe resembled his style at St. Matthew’s: he was not merely the administrative head of the college, but, as it were, the pastor of a parish.