HORNE, Reverend Dr James Robert Horne

Reverend Dr. James Robert Horne, 94 years old, of Kitchener, Ontario, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Village of University Gates in Waterloo, Ontario.
James was born in Windsor, Ontario, on February 12, 1931, to James and Mary Horne. He attended Kennedy Collegiate where he excelled at academics and was valedictorian. In his spare time, he was second board at the Windsor Chess Club while also closely following the Detroit Tigers. After high school he worked for 3 years at the Ford Motor Company, forming many habits that stayed with him throughout his life (including his rather detailed personal accounting and 9 to 5 work ethic). During this period, he completed two years of a BA at Assumption College of University of Western Ontario in evening classes. Having met his future wife Jean Harding, he quit Ford and went to Huron College at UWO to continue his studies.

At Huron, James finished his BA in Arts in 1954 and went on to graduate work in Philosophy. While simultaneously beginning graduate work and completing his B.Th in Theology one of his course papers was accepted for publication in the Hibbert Journal. This accomplishment earned him a fellowship that allowed him to complete both programs and graduate in 1958. After graduation, James was posted to Christ Church, Lions Head for the summers of 1958 and 1959, while spending the academic year in New York City at Columbia University’s PhD programme in Philosphy of Religion. James and family began a life-long love of Lion’s Head where vacations were spent for the next 40 years, and the people of that town still remember him to this day.James remained extremely busy as he was appointed assistant curate of St. John the Evangelist in Kitchener, helped in the development of a new Anglican College at the University of Waterloo, wrote his PhD thesis at Columbia, taught courses for the first time, and became a father to two boys (Malcolm in 1960 and Douglas in 1963). In 1963 he began work at Renison College as chaplain, assistant professor, and dean of students. He became faculty in the university philosophy department in 1966. In the 1970s he served two three-year terms as chair of the philosophy department and became a full professor in 1983. He published three books on the philosophy of mysticism in 1978, 1983 and 1996 along with numerous articles over the years.
In his own words: « The good things in my life have been due to periods of hard work, to moments of seemingly precognitive reassurance, to Jean and some friends, and to some miraculous accidents that have tempted me to see a divine plan for my life. All I can suggest is that on several occasions in the normal course of my work, I did routine things that opened new possibilities for others, as if I were opening a door. Perhaps, then, I have been a doorkeeper in the House of God. I like that idea. »
Outside of work, James loved theater and was a devoted member of The Stratford and Shaw Festivals, and the National Ballet of Canada, watched most sports, liked to sail (and sometimes race), enjoyed fine dining, obsessed over Walt Whitman and Richard Maurice Bucke, and enjoyed a martini. He was an old-school academic who did not often participate in the practices of the mystics he studied, but occasionally he would perform some magic when the situation called for it (and he would neither confirm nor comment on it).
The family would like to thank the staff of University Gates for the unfailing care and support provided in the year that he spent there. We always knew that he was being taken care of.
James is survived by his sons Malcolm (Heather) and Douglas (Diane), and his grandchildren Nathalie, Owen, Jude and Andrew, and his nephew Cameron. He is predeceased by his wife Jean, and his brother Cameron.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at St. George’s of Forest Hill Anglican Church, 321 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener, on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 12 p.m. until 12:45 p.m., with the funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. A reception will follow in the Church Hall.
In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to St. John’s Kitchen may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.