Career

Barnes was a practicing minister in various locations in Massachusetts before accepting a position with the Unitarians of Montreal to succeed John Cordner, a distinguished minister with an established congregation of many leading citizens. He soon became recognized as an outstanding orator. However, he was weak in the area of denominational promotion and the congregation diminished during his tenure.

Achievements

• The Barnes ministry was highly geared toward culture and the visual arts and for this he became famous, receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws from McGill University in 1909.