REV. THOMAS COLLING, B.A., was born in the township of Nelson, county of Halton, May 14th, 1840, and received his primary education in the common schools of that county.

At the age of sixteen he entered the preparatory department of Victoria University, Cobourg, where he remained one year.

In 1862 he entered the Methodist ministry, and after laboring in that vocation for two years he again attended the lectures of Victoria University, and graduated from that institution in the year 1869 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

At the close of his college career, Mr. Colling was ordained in the city of Toronto by the Rev. Morley Punshon, the well-known English divine, and was given an appointment at the town of Dundas under the superintendence of the Rev. W. H. Laird. He remained in that town for one year, and spent the following year in Oakville, the Rev. Michael Fawcett being his superintendent in the latter place. His next appointment was at Cote St. Paul, as superintendent for the years 1871, 1872 and 1873. From that place he went to St. Catharines and assisted the Rev. Dr. Sanderson in his pastoral work for two years. When the division of the circuit was made in that city, our subject was made superintendent of the Welland Avenue church.

To him is due much of the credit for the erection of the handsome edifice on Welland Avenue in 1876, he having been the chief promoter of the undertaking. He went from St. Catharines to become the pastor of St. Thomas Second Church, and remained there during 1877 and 1878. He next spent three years in New Brighton, and secured the construction there of a very handsome church, which cost about twelve thousand dollars.

From London South he came again to St. Catharines, as pastor of the Welland Avenue church for the year 1882. During that year Mr. Colling married Ellen Elizabeth, daughter of John Ingram, Esq., of London South. His next pastorate was at Beamsville during 1883 and 1884, and has had his present charge since the meeting of the conference of 1885. On assuming this pastorate he was appointed superintendent for Welland district.

Although Mr. Colling is an earnest, forcible, and eloquent preacher, his strong point in church work is his faculty of putting church finances in good shape and raising money to build new churches.

Colling, Thomas, Rev. buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery, London, Middlesex Co.

Men of Canada - 1891.

Rev. Thomas Colling of Plattsville was born in Lowville, Halton Co in 1840 and was married in 1882 to Miss Ellen Elizabeth Ingram. He was educated in the public schools of the province and afterwards Victoria University, Cobourg, where he graduated with high standing in 1869. From the outset of his college course he stood high in all his classes, taking the first prize for elocution from the University Literary Association for attainments in English composition.

Like many Canadians of note, he was born on the farm, and spent his early days and his vacations during his course at the University, in agricultural pursuits. An early taste for a Christian education shaped his future career, so that, when about 20 years of age, he was converted and united with the Methodist Church, he was at once appointed as a local preacher.

In 1862 he joined the Conference as a probationer, and was ordained to the office of the Holy Ministry at the Conference held in Toronto in 1869 by the late lamented Wm. Morley Punshon, who was at that time president of the Conference. Before ordination Mr. Colling travelled the circuits of Hullsville and Arran, serving each one year, and spent five years at the University. After ordination he laboured in the circuits of Dundas, Oakville, Lachine, St. Catharines (twice), St. Thomas, London, Beamsville, Welland, Simcoe and Plattsville.

His record in all these circuit, as presented to the several conferences, has been that of unswerving loyalty to his church, and signal success. He is well known as a faithful pastor, an earnest and able Gospel preacher and noted church financier.

Precious memories of his self-denying labours remain in every locality where he has been stationed, and large numbers have been brought to Christ by his earnest appeals. Mr. Colling has been secretary of the Canada Holiness Association since its organization in the year 1879, and has also been district chairman.

Charges: 1862 Hullsville, 1863 Arran, 1864-1869 Victoria College Cobourg, 1869 Dundas, 1870-1871 Trafalgar (Halton Co.), 1871-1873 Cote St. Paul/Lachine, 1873-1875 St. Catharines Welland Ave Church, 1877-1878 St. Thomas, 1878-1881 New Brighton (London), 1882 St. Catharines, 1883-1884 Beamsville, 1885 Welland District Superintendent, 1887 Simcoe, 1891 Plattsville