At the 2022 Spring Convocation, Crandall University’s first honourary doctorate was presented to Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh.

During his convocation address, Dr. Hindmarsh impressed upon the grads a creed in three parts, extolling the importance of universal human dignity, common reason, and mercy.

Bruce Hindmarsh is now widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on the origins of evangelical Christianity in the eighteenth century. In the pages of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Prof. Mark Noll called his second major book “the best book ever written by a North American on eighteenth-century evangelical religion.” In 2012, British scholars named him a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and the following year he became the first Canadian ever elected President of the American Society of Church History.

Professor Hindmarsh has given lectures at eminent institutions, including Baylor University, Duke University, Queen’s University, the University of Chicago, the University of Manchester, the University of Notre Dame, the University of St. Andrews, and the University of Wales. In addition, and in keeping with his roots in Saskatchewan and his student years at Briercrest College, he has spoken internationally at many Christian institutions. In fact, he served as Crandall University’s Murray Lecturer in 2014.

The main part of his teaching career has been spent at two institutions, both schools from which he graduated with distinction: Briercrest and Regent College, Vancouver. Dr. Hindmarsh has been teaching at Regent College for two decades, and he has the distinction of being that institution’s inaugural holder of the James M. Houston Chair of Spiritual Theology, now also of Church History.

The academic and faith development of the next generation has been a focus of Dr. Hindmarsh’s life and career. Many of his thesis students have gone on to distinguished careers of their own. A former staff worker for Youth for Christ, he is a founding director of Cedarwood Camp. Professor Hindmarsh has also frequently offered spiritual retreats alongside his wife, Carolyn, for Christians in all walks of life. Dr. Hindmarsh and his wife have three children: Bethany, Matthew, and Sam.

Prof. Bruce Hindmarsh has devoted his career to the transformation of students through Canadian Christian higher education, to the searching historical study of our tradition, and to the promotion of fervent piety in tandem with rigorous scholarship. As such, he exemplifies the ideals of Crandall University and deserves to be awarded Crandall University’s Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.

Crandall University is Atlantic Canada’s leading Liberal Arts University rooted in the Christian Faith, offering degree programs in Arts, Science, Business Administration, Education, and Management. To learn more, visit crandallu.ca or call 1‑888-968-6228.