Although
John Niddrie answered his call to the ministry early, his formal
career as a missionary began relatively late in life at age 47. He
was assigned to Oxford House in 1910 and remained there for five years,
during which time he learned Cree and ministered to the needs
of his community, spiritually and physically. He became attached
to the people he served and felt satisfied by his work and time spent at
Oxford House.
In 1915 Niddrie was ordained as a
minister in the Methodist Church of
Canada and moved from Oxford House to Island Lake. There he became an
itinerant minister preaching at Oxford House, God's Lake, Island Lake,
Sandy Lake and Deer Lake. Despite initial regrets at being moved to
Island Lake, within a few years he had once again formed meaningful attachments
with community members. Although his next posting at Berens River was a larger
circuit, Niddrie adeptly made his rounds for 18 years, counselling, baptizing and
preaching, before retiring in 1938.

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