Fonds F3536 - Bessie French fonds

Bessie French (1893-1979) was a deaconess and missionary in the United Church. She was born at Morton's Harbour, Newfoundland. She studied at the School of Social Work, University of Toronto, a Christian Education Course at Hartford, Connecticut, at Union Theological Seminary in New York, at Emmanuel College and at the United Church Training School.

Bessie French was both commissioned as a missionary under the Women's Missionary Society and designated as a deaconess. Prior to being designated as a deaconess, she spent eight years as a matron under the Board of Home Missions at Norway House and two years as a matron at Coqualeetza Residential School at Sardis, B.C. After designation, she served at File Hills, Saskatchewan, Crosby Girls' School (Port Simpson Residential School), Port Simpson, B.C., Warden United Church, Glace Bay, N.S., St. Columba Community Centre, Montreal, and All People's Church, Hamilton.

Miss French retired in 1961 but continued to be very active in church work in the Hamilton area.