About

​Fr. Lawrence Farley was born in Metropolitan Toronto and was converted to Christ in the early 1970s through the charismatic Jesus People movement and joined the Anglican Church. He obtained a B.A. in Religious Studies from Trinity College at the University of Toronto followed by an M. Div. at Wycliffe College. He was ordained to Anglican priesthood in 1979 and pastored two parishes in northern Saskatchewan. He resigned his priesthood in 1985 and was received into the Orthodox Church two weeks later. He and his family then went to St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary in Pennsylvania to study for two years.  He was ordained to the Orthodox priesthood in 1986.

​In 1987 the Farley family settled in Surrey, B.C. to begin a new English-language mission there under the O.C.A., the first such canonical mission in B.C.  It began with about twelve people attending the backyard chapel of the family of Dr. Edward and Mrs. Vivian Hartley who had left their Holy Resurrection Orthodox in Vancouver to start an English mission.  It was under Fr. Lawrence that the tiny mission joined the O.C.A.

​Fr. Lawrence had to work at full and part-time secular jobs for the first seven years or so to support his family as the mission grew in size.  The mission, dedicated to St. Herman of Alaska, moved from place to place finally buying property in Langley, its present location.

During this time the mission grew in size and strength, founding a number of daughter parishes from the converts that came to Orthodoxy at St. Herman’s:  the parishes in Victoria, Comox, and North Vancouver, Creston, and Kamloops were all begun by men converted at St. Herman’s and baptized/chrismated by Fr. Lawrence.

​As well as helping to plant churches, Fr. Lawrence also wrote a number of books, mostly Bible commentaries and theological works published by Ancient Faith Publishing, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, and Sebastian Press.  Currently his publications number 33 books, available through Amazon.  A number of deacons also were ordained at St. Herman’s who went on to serve the wider church.  The current number of Orthodox clergy, both deacons and priests, who began their Orthodox life at St. Herman’s is 15.

​The year 2023 saw the Grand Opening of the new church building on their property, built after decades of fund raising and financial sacrifice on the part of St. Herman’s clergy and members.) It was the first purpose-built Orthodox church constructed in the lower mainland for many decades and the fulfillment of many dreams and much hard work.

​At the end of 2024 Fr. Lawrence retired as the founder and Rector of St. Herman’s.  He continues to write, publish, offer pastoral care, and preach.  He lives in Surrey with his wife Donna.  They have two children and six grandchildren.