[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26121-26122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND CANON ERNEST D. SILLERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 28, 2009

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of 
Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers, the founder of St. Margaret's 
Episcopal School and two other Episcopal schools in Orange County. 
Orange County, California has been blessed by dynamic and dedicated 
leaders who willingly and unselfishly give their time and talent and 
make their communities a better place to live and work. Reverend 
Sillers dedicated his life and purpose to both God and education; he 
will be dearly missed.
  Ernest Sillers was born October 2, 1910, in River John, Nova Scotia. 
When he was 18 years old, he answered his personal calling and decided 
to attend Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. It was there he met 
the love of his life, Aldine, and they were married. Rev. Sillers 
graduated with a degree in theology and entered the ministry at First 
Baptist Church in Seabrook, New Hampshire. He studied for a master's 
degree and attended the Episcopal Seminary at Cambridge Seminary as a 
part-time student. His efforts led him to become an ordained Episcopal 
Priest. After serving in New England, Rev. Sillers moved to Pico Rivera 
where he was Vicar of the mission parish of St. Bartholomew. Because of 
his long time interest in education, Rev. Sillers obtained a teaching 
credential. In 1960, Rev. Sillers was called to be Rector of St. Mark's 
Episcopal Church in Downey, California. There, he was inspired to start 
his first school.

[[Page 26122]]

  Fifteen years later, Ernest Sillers and Aldine were retired and 
living in Laguna Beach. The Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles had 
heard that people in the growing community of San Juan Capistrano would 
be served by an Episcopal church. He asked Rev. Sillers if he would be 
a temporary priest-in-chart to start the church and Sillers accepted. 
In October 1979, St. Margaret's Episcopal School was founded with 79 
students and was located in temporary structures. The following year, 
the student population doubled and by 1986, a 12th grade class had 
graduated. Aldine served as the school's founding librarian.
  After the successful founding and growth of St. Margaret's, Rev. 
Sillers was ready for a new challenge. He went on to found St. John's 
Episcopal Church and School in Rancho Santa Margarita and, a few years 
later, St. Mary and All Angels Episcopal School in Aliso Viejo.
  On October 15, 2009, Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers passed away. On 
behalf of all those who knew him, it is my honor to offer these remarks 
as a tribute to the life and legacy of Reverend Sillers. His life and 
presence will be sorely missed and I extend my condolences to his dear 
family and friends. His legacy of service and his vision of education 
live on.

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