We Remember

CRAWLEY, David Perry
July 26, 1937 — August 17, 2025
David Perry Crawley, a Priest and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, died peacefully in Kelowna, B.C., surrounded by family.
David will be missed by his wife, Joan Bubbs; daughters Hope (Pablo Carter), Sarah (John Ervin), and Rachael (Sam Nankivell) Crawley; grand-children Early (Carmen), Breath, Shahada, and Odea (Conor); great-granddaughters Claire and Arabella; brother John (Darlene) Crawley, sister Paddy Murray (Jim Austin), as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by infant daughter Emma Katherine; sister Antoinette Vance; and first wife Louise Wilmot.
Son of the Reverend Canon George Antony Crawley and Lucy Lillian Ball, David grew up in northern Alberta and northern Ontario, spending summers at the family farm in Minnedosa, MB. Earning his BA and L.Th. from St. John’s College, University of Manitoba and his MA from the University of Kent at Canterbury, he was ordained in 1961 and served parishes in Sherwood Park, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and Vancouver before being elected Bishop of the Diocese of Kootenay in 1990 and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC & Yukon in 1994. In 2004, he served as the acting Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. He retired in November 2004.
David was committed to social reform. He was instrumental in establishing Edmonton’s first women’s shelter, creating a community ministry for the marginalized in Winnipeg, and forming the first AIDS chaplaincy in Vancouver’s West End. As Metropolitan and acting Primate, he worked tirelessly toward the achievement of a just settlement of Residential Schools claims and the establishment of a national fund for healing and pastoral support.
David loved downhill skiing, watching hockey and classic Westerns, and attending family reunions. An avid cook, he was famous for his dinner parties and his array of homemade sausages.
The funeral will be held on Monday, September 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM, located at St. Michael & All Angels’ Cathedral, 608 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna, BC. For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be livestreamed via YouTube {“The Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels”}.
Donations in David’s memory can be made to Alongside Hope (World Relief), or to St. Michael & All Angels’ Cathedral (in trust, towards the rebuilding of Camp OAC).
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
Service
Monday, September 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM
Location
St. Michael & All Angels’ Cathedral, 608 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna, BC
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Service Information
Service Details
The service for CRAWLEY, David Perry is scheduled for Monday, September 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Dear Sarah and family
He sounds like a wonderful human. And I love the photograph. You all take care of yourselves, you know that he will always be with you but still a huge loss. You take care.
I remember well meeting David at my military officer’s mess in Regina, Sask. It was at the same time I met my future husband D. Michael Jackson. It was the New Year’s Levy in 1983. One of my fellow officer’s said “Hear come the priests.” three times. Being Scottish Presbyterian I thought they were Roman Catholic Priests. It was only when I spoke to David that I was told they were Anglian Priests. I got to know David while he was a priest in Regina. He was great with my daughter Tanya and son John. I have only wonderful memories of him. I know Michael carried for him as well. I’m sure Michael and David are talking to one another in heaven!