Talk:Ernest Reed

Ernest Samuel Reed at the funeral of Georges Vanier

I have not been able to find sources for these annecdotes that deserve to be worked into the article (I was present at the time and cannot "endnote" myself). First, the funeral for Governor General Vanier was held in the Roman Catholic archdiocese's Basilique Notre Dame on Ottawa's Sussex Drive. It was in need of maintenance. Ernie Reed attended. During the funeral, a lump of plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the Anglican bishop on the head. Asked about it afterwards, he said, "Luckily, I have a thick Irish skull." Second, Bishop Reed also invited Michael Ramsay, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Ottawa in 1971. The only celebration of communion was held in the Roman Catholic basilica, since no Anglican church in the diocese was large enough to hold the anticipated crowd.