RT. REVEREND CHARLES DORRINGTON  

VPC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Like so many, Charles Dorrington’s life could have turned out very differently. Blessed with musical talent like his mother and grandmother before him, music was a big part of his life and he was soon enrolled in vocal studies at the Toronto Conservatory of Music.  Charles chose not to pursue musical studies in London and Paris while the Lord continued to weave His way into Charles’ life through his love for music.

At age thirteen, Charles began attending All Saints Anglican Church in Peterborough where the Rev. Maurice Poole was instrumental in his spiritual walk. At seventeen, Charles received God’s call into His service and he prepared to enter the Anglican Ministry. When his father became ill in 1959, his plans were put on hold and he went to work in the legal survey field. Charles became a Lay Reader with the Diocese of Toronto and was asked to conduct services and preach at many churches in south and central Ontario. He became Assistant Choirmaster at All Saints’, Choirmaster at St. Luke’s and was a much sought after church and secular soloist.

Charles married in 1961.  In 1970, by then a family of four, the Dorringtons moved to Victoria, where Charles went to work for B.C. Hydro.  He was soon singing with many church and secular vocal groups.  When Charles’ ten year marriage ended, he searched anew for the Lord’s direction in his life.  Drawing closer to God, he soon found a new home within the Reformed Episcopal Church of Our Lord, where his church and music interests once again grew together.  There, he directed the choir and was made a Lay Reader, leading many of the services of worship.

Charles met Claudia in 1972 ... and had her singing in the COOL Choir the very next Sunday.  They were married at Church of Our Lord in 1973.  During the 1970’s, Charles was on the Board of Directors of the Cridge Centre, President of the Upper Room, and a member of the Amity Singers.  He directed choirs, sang with operatic productions, and was the founding President of the Pacific Opera.

The Lord continued to prepare him and call him into His service, and in 1978, he was ordained a Deacon in the Reformed Episcopal Church.  The following year he was ordained Presbyter and became the Rector of Church of Our Lord.

God soon led Charles through a deep process of spiritual awakening which enriched and changed his ministry.  Hurting people began coming to Charles, and as he prayed with them, he saw God changing their lives.  The needs were many, and he soon found people being sent to him from other churches.  As a strong compassion for the wounded grew within Charles, the Lord was blessing him and equipping him through teachings, people and experiences.  He would later become involved in Elijah House Canada, where he served as a Board Member.

His wife Claudia supported his ministry, first as a prayer partner, but in time working alongside Charles as a co-counsellor.  Charles could never find it in his heart to send anyone away, and his regular parish work began to suffer. Prayerfully seeking God’s will, Charles felt called into full time Christian Counselling, and in January 1993, after fourteen years of pastoral ministry, he retired to found Victoria Prayer Counselling.

Charles sees the Lord’s vision for VPC as an ongoing resource for the Christian community, available to all, irrespective of a person’s financial status. 

His dedication to, and affiliation with, the Reformed Episcopal Church has continued.  On June 23, 1996, Charles Dorrington was consecrated a Bishop, and at the following meeting of the Synod, he was named Bishop of the Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska.

In 1980, six months after Charles was named Rector of Church of Our Lord, during an evening of teaching at the Anglican Renewal Centre, Claudia met Jesus for the very first time.  Hungry for the Lord and realizing her own state of brokenness, Claudia set out on a feverish quest for spiritual growth and personal healing.  Her journey took her to diverse denominatioal settings including the Anglican Renewal Centre, Wholeness Through Christ and the Schools of Pastoral Care.  She immersed herself in the Word and in books by the Linn Brothers, Leanne Payne, Father Francis McNutt, Dennis & Rita Bennett (The Holy Spirit & You) and John and Paula Sandford.

Early in her walk with the Lord, Claudia recognized that she was carrying hurts and anger from her own childhood.  As God healed her painful memories, she was given a deep compassion for and the discernment and faith to pray for others.  By 1981 Claudia was feeling a calling to the healing ministry and it soon became evident to many that God was using Claudia as a chosen vessel for that purpose.  Together, she and Charles experienced more personal spiritual growth and confirmation of their inner healing ministries while participating in studies through Elijah House.  Over the next several years, Claudia co-counselled with Charles.

Claudia left her teaching position at Cross Roads School to work with Charles in the ministry at VPC.  She has been mightily used, especially in prayer ministry to women who have been subjected to abuse in their lives.  The Lord is continuing to bring healing to many through her loving prayers and wise counsel.