Getting to Know The Rev. Paul Baskcomb
On Friday, July 18, 2025, the Diocese of Algoma will gather at St. John the Divine in Copper Cliff to celebrate a joyful milestone: the ordination of the Rev. Paul Baskcomb to the sacred order of priests. The service of Holy Eucharist and Ordination will take place at 1:30 p.m., and all are invited to hold Paul and his wife, Marsha, in prayer as he prepares for this next chapter in ministry.
Rev. Paul currently serves as the incumbent of St. John the Divine, Copper Cliff, and Christ Church, Lively, where his pastoral journey as a deacon began in June 2024. A graduate of Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Paul brings to his ministry both a rich theological foundation and a wealth of real-world leadership experience.
Before ordination, Paul devoted his professional life to public service, spending decades as an urban planner in Sudbury, including senior roles as Director of Planning and General Manager of Growth and Development for Greater Sudbury. He has also been deeply involved in higher education, serving as Board Chair and Acting President of Thorneloe University and receiving an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters in 2023.
But Paul’s story is about more than titles and achievements. For him, the call to ordained ministry has been “percolating” for decades. “Mid-career, I had a sense of call,” he reflects, “but it seemed like something off in the future—maybe following an early retirement. That’s the path I eventually came upon. I’ve always felt my work in public service fit well with my Christian faith, working for the public good.”
As he leans fully into pastoral ministry, Paul is finding inspiration in the congregations he serves. “Just seeing the journeys people have taken in arriving at their faith—it’s inspiring and humbling. God works in so many ways in people’s lives.”
A long-time Northerner, Paul grew up attending St. Luke’s Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie. He and Marsha, his wife of 42 years, have three grown children and three grandchildren. On days off, Paul finds joy in spending time with his grandchildren, who make him “laugh, feel refreshed—and tired!” He enjoys cross-country skiing in winter, cottaging on Manitoulin Island in summer, and motorcycle trips with Marsha. (“If I ever had a sabbatical, we might just head off on the bikes!”)
A bookmark from his university years, with the words “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), continues to anchor him. “It reminds me, regardless of what’s going on around me, of the joy we have in serving God.”
Paul’s favourite book outside of the Bible? The Lord of the Rings. His comfort food? Pizza—especially from Aurora’s in the Soo, though he remains a loyal customer to Sudbury’s local pizzerias. And if he had to describe his ministry style in musical terms? “Eclectic,” he laughs. “I’m still exploring and finding the voice I bring to ministry.”
As his ordination to the priesthood draws near, Paul is a reminder that God’s call comes in many seasons of life. And yes—you can answer that call and still ride a Harley Davidson.