Kenneth T. Norris

*Excerpt from the Christian Standard, December 26, 2019; a paper by Tammy Lewis (Grand-daughter) for Maritime Christian College; and the K.T. Norris Archives (Courtesy of Maritime Christian College)*

*If you would like to contribute information to this page, please email info@restorationhistory.ca*

On March 28th, 1915, in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Walter and Bessie (Thompson) Norris became the proud parents of their fifth child: Kenneth Thompson Norris.

From 1932 to 1936, Kenneth pursued many different careers, including two years in the office of Stanco Canada Limited of Standard Oil Co. All the while, being very active in the Keele Street Church. No job that he pursued satisfied him, and in 1936. Kenneth enrolled at the Cincinnati Bible College. He was going to become a preacher. In 1939, Kenneth received his Bachelor of Arts. While studying at Cincinnati, Kenneth was also involved in student ministries at Lancaster, Illinois, and Taylorsport, Kentucky. 

Norris returned home for the summer of 1936. There. he was able to get work. At this point in Kenneth's life. he had been dating Joyce Kathleen Harris from the Keele Street Church. 

In the fall of 1939, Kenneth returned to Cincinnati to start work on his Masters. By January of 1940, Kenneth had moved back to Toronto where he taught Gospels and Acts in a school which was established by CH. Phillips who was the minister at Keele Street at the time. During this time, he also was involved in a part-time ministry in Erin. Ontario. The school only lasted for three years. 

Marilyn Lewis couldn't have said it better when she wrote in her paper, The Canadian Who Came Back. "There may have been another pull on him to return to Canada. He may have found the long distance romance was too long and on June 15th of 1942, he married Joyce Harris." The two were wed by Mr. Phillips at Keele Street. 

In the summer of 1942, Kenneth and his bride, Joyce, packed up what little they had and headed for Vulcan, Alberta. Vulcan had a small congregation of 30-40 people. In the fall of 1943, In addition to working with the church, Mr. Norris taught three days each week during the school year at Alberta Bible College in Calgary. To supplement his income, Mr. Norris worked in the harvests in the Vulcan area. He resigned in November, 1943, but he was asked to reconsider and he agreed to stay. 

In 1944, a new member was added to the Norris family. On October 8th, 1944, Barry Kenneth was born in the small town of Vulcan. (Click here for a history of the Vulcan Church of Christ)

Joyce Norris recalled that there was no running water where they lived, which was in the parsonage. She recalled how the outhouse seemed to be miles away, when, in actual fact, it was just across the yard. 

In May, 1945, it became apparent that he would no longer be needed on the staff of Alberta Bible College. On May 20th, 1945, Kenneth submitted his resignation to the church (Click to see resignation letter), and this time it was accepted. In June, the family left Vulcan. Kenneth traveled to Cincinnati, to continue his studies, while Joyce and Barry stayed at her mother’s in Toronto. By the fall of 1945, Joyce and Barry were able to move down to Cincinnati to be with Kenneth. By this time, Kenneth had completed the summer session and was now enrolled full time at Cincinnati Bible Seminary. During this time, Kenneth was also ministering to the Grape Grove congregation on the weekends. 

During 1945-1946, Kenneth was able to work in different areas of ministry including teaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, writing articles for "The Standard'' and receiving his Bachelor of Philosophy. In 1946, Kenneth became the full-time minister at Grape Grove, still continuing his studies and teaching at C.B.S. where, in 1948, he received his Master of Arts. In 1947, the Norrises had a second child, Marilyn Joyce. 

During 1948-1950, Kenneth studied at Hamm School of Theology, Willenburg University, Ohio and in 1950, he received his Bachelor of Divinity. The year 1950 also brought another move for the Norrises to Fortville, Indiana. Here he ministered to a congregation that numbered 300 by the time the Norris's left. In addition the the regular ministerial work, Kenneth led many revival services, and worked with the young people in the church.

June 5, 1952 saw the birth of Ken and Joyce's third and final child, Paul Anthony. This same summer they received a telegram from the Montague Church of Christ. It was written by R.W. Beck, stating that the Montague congregation was interested in having the family move to the Island, and minister with them. In the summer of 1952, the Norris’s visited the Island. 

On September 19th, 1952, Kenneth submitted his resignation to the Fortville church. In his letter, he stated the following:

"Having been called to work with the church of Christ in Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and knowing the great need for workers in the churches of Christ in that area, and feeling that God would have us work in that part of His vineyard, I wish to tender my resignation as the Minister of the Fortville Christian Church at this time." (Click to view full letter).

By November of the same year, the Norris family had their things packed and headed for Prince Edward Island, leaving behind dear friends and loyal supporters. 

A front-page story of the December 13, 1952, issue of Christian Standard carried the headline, “Norris Becomes Evangelist for Canadian Churches.” It began,

Montague, P. E. I., Canada—Kenneth T. Norris, former minister of the Christian Church in Fortville, Ind., has accepted a call to serve as evangelist for the Church of Christ here. In addition to his pastoral work with the local congregation, he will lead in strengthening weak churches and planting churches after the New Testament pattern in other communities.

An article also features in the Fortville Tribune on September 25th, 1952:

They arrived and started their ministry by Christmas, 1952. Not only did Kenneth minister at the Montague Church, but at Murray Harbour and Murray River as well. It was not long before the influence of the Norris’s became evident. From February 8th - 22nd of 1952, evangelistic meetings were held at Murray River. At this time the Murray River church had 20-30 people. By the end of the two weeks, attendance at the meetings peeked 250. March 8, 1953 officially marked the first airing of "Where the Bible Speaks." This was a radio program that aired on C.F.C.Y. years ago, in which the voice of Kenneth could be heard preaching the gospel. 

On top of this radio program, ministering to three congregations, and leading both bible studies and youth groups. Norris, accompanied by local church men. such as W.O. Weale, made trips to the mainland in hopes of re vitalizing many of the Christian Churches that were dying out. Such places would include Mill Village and River John, N.S. By the fall of 1953, Kenneth would make the trip to the mainland every Thursday morning, to hold a bible study in the New Glasgow, N.S. area. And by 1957, with the aid of Kenneth Norris, Harry Herring and W.O. Weale, a congregation was started in Truro. 

By the late fifties, Kenneth had led Bible Correspondence courses. deaned and managed Canoe Cove Christian Camp, ministered to the local churches, maintained close contact with some of the congregations on the mainland, and helped in raising a family. Now, in the late fifties, a need was felt to open a Bible College in the area. In the summer of 1959, a meeting was held to discuss this need further. Some of the men present were Harry Herring, Merle Zimmerman, Floyd MacKinnon, Mac Beck, Donald Stewart and Kenneth Norris. 

By January of 1960, things were set to go for that fall. A man by the name of C. P. Herndon was president and Kenneth was teacher and dean. However, that summer, Herndon returned to the States, and the dean was left in charge. Maritime Christian College went ahead, and opened September of 1960, with Kenneth T. Norris as the president and main teacher. During the course of the year. Kenneth found himself traveling throughout the Maritimes and parts of the States informing people of the College and of its needs. 

In 1967, a congregation had formed as a Bible School, and services were being held in a community school in Sherwood. Kenneth was the preacher and leader. March of 1970 saw a full-time minister hired for the congregation, a building constructed that summer, and Ken remaining at the Sherwood congregation as an elder and teacher. 

In January of 1977, Kenneth T. Norris and Stewart J. Lewis traveled to Antigua. Here they saw the need of preaching and teaching to be great. Over the next few years, the Norris's traveled to Antigua a total of six times (Click here to read 1980 newsletter from Antigua Christian Mission). Once there, classes and evangelistic meetings were held. Today, Antigua has Christian congregations that are being led by Antigua men thanks to men like Kenneth Norris. 

In 1980, Kenneth Norris retired as president of the College. For years afterwards, he remained on at the College, teaching Acts and the Gospels. In January of 1982, the annual lectureships that are hosted by the College became known as the K.T. Norris Annual Lectureships. 

During his life, Kenneth Norris earned degrees from Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Hanna Divinity School at Wittenberg College, and Xavier University, all in Ohio. In addition to serving at Fortville, he ministered in Ontario, Canada, and for five years with Grape Grove Church of Christ in Jamestown, Ohio.

When Tammy, Kenneth Norris' granddaughter, spoke with Kenneth and Joyce, and asked them a few questions about the past, present and future, they had some very interesting comments: 

Question: "What, as a young man, were some of your main goals?" 

Ken: "To minister in all three parts of Canada and end up in Ontario to start a Bible College." 

Joyce: "To get married (Ha, ha!). Seriously, to be a good wife and to have a good ministry." 

Question: "Did you always preach so long, Granddad?" 

Ken: "Not in the early days." 

Joyce: "Always." 

Question: "Have you grown with the times?" 

Ken: "We've grown more… mellow" (must be the influence of grandchildren)." 

Question: "What are ministers today lacking?" 

Ken: "The need to study more, preach more of the Gospel sermon, about Christ and the way of salvation." 

When I asked what they thought their greatest accomplishments were, one answer was identical to six years ago when my mother asked the same question: "our children and grandchildren." 

Question: "Beyond that though?" 

"Three children who are active Christians along with their spouses and children.·· 

Question: "Beyond that though?" 

"Getting the College started and carrying it on ... "