Ira Moulton Taylor

There has been an outpouring of grief on the passing of Dr. Ira M. Taylor, former pastor of the Oakwood Wesleyan Church, Toronto who died on Thursday, December 29th, two days shy of his 101st birthday.

Many will remember him as a stalwart leader in the Toronto Christian community dating back to the late 1960’s. Dr. Taylor was born in Charlestown, Nevis to Alfred and Irene Taylor on December 31, 1921, and he remained a very proud Nevisian all his life. His primary and secondary education was in Nevis and his theological training in the Pilgrim Holiness Seminary in Jamaica. It was there that he met, and in 1948, married his wife, Eileen. She predeceased him in 2013. Together they raised five children: Hudson, Paul, Althea, Donna and Dean.

Dr. Taylor preached his first sermon at age seventeen and continued his preaching ministry until his health weakened in his later years. True to form, he continued ‘preaching’ to his many followers on social media with his daily Facebook postings of wisdom and encouragement.

Dr. Taylor began his preaching ministry with the Pilgrim (now Wesleyan) Holiness Church in Antigua and moved on to minister in Trinidad and later St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Although his primary responsibility was pastoring, he travelled throughout the Caribbean ministering, often with his younger brother, Wingrove. His preaching ministry took him literally around the world as he ministered not only across Canada and the United States, but also in the UK and as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Only eternity will tell the many lives that were influenced and shaped by his effective preaching and exemplary life.

In the late 1960’s when floods of immigrants were moving to the Metropolitan Toronto area, Dr. Taylor was called to minister at the Wesleyan Holiness Church on Oakwood (later Brandon) Avenue, Toronto. Known throughout the Toronto Caribbean community for his eloquent and captivating preaching, many flocked to his church and his name soon became a household word recognized by even non-church attenders. Many young people seeking a new life here in Canada would testify that their faith was consolidated and strengthened as a result of Dr. Taylor’s ministry.

His last years in full time ministry were spent at the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Maryland, U.S.A. where he distinguished himself in ministry also. Many there and here in the Metro Toronto area were influenced by his godly leadership, his scholarly, eloquent, preaching and his stalwart example. All who knew him will also remember his love for gardening, especially for roses, and his landscape painting hobby. They will remember too his very positive attitude (“Excellent, my friend”) and the very fine Christian gentleman that he was. His legacy continues to inspire us and he will be forever in our hearts.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Taylor family.