William Fraser

Fraser, William

William Fraser, first Roman Catholic bishop of Halifax (b at Glenn Cannich, Scot 1778 or 1779; d at Antigonish, NS 4 Oct 1851). A missionary by training and preference, he was most effective when serving the spiritual and educational needs of his fellow Highland Scots in eastern NS. A reluctant but sincere prelate, his tenure as vicar apostolic of NS (1824-42) was the focus of unrest between Scottish and Irish elements of the church in NS. His decision not to move to Halifax, after being appointed bishop of Halifax in 1842, soon led to a division of the diocese of NS, with Fraser being appointed bishop of Arichat and William Walsh, an Irishman, becoming bishop of Halifax. Fraser was a pious and devoted priest, and his chief legacy was the establishment of Saint Andrew's Grammar School at Arichat, the precursor of St Francis Xavier University at Antigonish.