CLOSER TO FAMILY

Besides the appeal of the post at Trinity, the Beltons desired to be closer to Penny's mother in Fort Erie, Ontario. Now, they are a six-hour drive away as opposed to a 10-hour flight-and-driving commute with long waits in airports.

Their son, Andrew, is in his second year at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Penny is originally from Newfoundland. Belton, the second of three sons, was born near Birmingham, England, and raised at Sutton Coldfield. He was educated in England and moved to Alberta in 1977 when he took a teaching position at a boy's residential school, St. John's School of Alberta. He taught there 25 years.

He was called to the ordained ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada. In 2002, he attended seminary at the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad in Saskatoon. He did two years there and one year in Edmonton.

UNION JACK

Raised a Methodist, he hails from a maternal line of Methodist ministers and missionaries. His parents had no problem with his decision to become an Episcopalian rector.

"My mother is very pluralistic. My father was very ecumenical. Being a Methodist, Anglican or Presbyterian wouldn't make any difference. If it was something outrageous, they would probably say, Are you kidding?'"

He was ordained as a deacon in April 2005 and as a priest in November 2005. His first charge was a three-point parish, St. Catherine's Anglican Church, St. Patrick Whitecourt and St. Columba in Alberta. He was there three years before answering Trinity's appeal.

"The rest, as they say, is history."

The Beltons arrived in their new home just before the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration this year. In England, Belton had heard of the battle but didn't know the details. He toured the events with his parishioners and met some fellow Brits, who attended the festivities.

"I put a Union Jack flag outside the rectory," Belton said. "It caused quite a few comments, most of them positive."

rcaudell@pressrepublican.com