In Memoriam: John Coolidge Hurd

Dear Members of the Trinity College Community:

It is with great sadness to let you know of the death of The Rev. Dr. John Coolidge Hurd (1928–2025), Professor Emeritus of the College. Professor Hurd was a theologian, educator and pioneer of computer-assisted research in the humanities.

Professor Hurd’s connection with Trinity College started in 1967, as Lecturer in Religious Studies in the Faculty of Divinity. He was appointed Professor of Religious Studies in 1974 and Professor of Divinity in 1975, and he served for more than 20 years as Director of Advanced Degree Studies. From 1992 until his retirement in June 1993, he also served as Dean of Divinity (pro tem), and was a member of the Corporation of Trinity College. In 2002, Professor Hurd received an honorary degree – Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) – from Trinity College.

Along with being one of the founders of the Toronto School of Theology, he served as editor-in-chief of the Anglican Theological Review (1966-1969) and was president of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (1972-1973), as well as the chairman of several theological societies and committees within Trinity and the University of Toronto. In 1977, he received an award from the Association of Theological Schools for the development of computer-assisted instructional materials in his Greek Tutor program. His publications include A Bibliography of New Testament Bibliographies (1966), The Origin of 1 Corinthians (1984), and From Jesus to Paul: Studies in Honour of Francis Wright Beare (1984). We are grateful to Professor Hurd for his immense contributions to the Trinity, TST and U of T communities, and for shaping biblical studies in Canada for a generation.

On behalf of the College, we extend our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.

Yours truly,
The Rev. Canon Dr. Christopher Brittain
Dean of Divinity and Margaret E. Fleck Chair in Anglican Studies

Categories: In Memoriam