Joseph Canfield was introduced in Season 8 of When Calls the Heart. He is portrayed by Viv Leacock.
Background[]
Joseph is Hope Valley’s pastor, who arrived with his family in Season 8. He was a bivocational pastor until season 10, when he felt called to full-time ministry.
Storyline[]
Season 8[]
Joseph drives into town with a delivery for Lee. It's 250 pounds of coffee from South America. Lee throws out his back when he tries to carry the crate and Joseph offers to pray for Lee when he finds out he is injured.
When he leaves town, his car suddenly runs out of gas. He walks in to find gas only to find the local gas station doesn't exist. He considers buying the gas station and also finds their little church endearing. He finds out they are currently in search of a pastor. [1]
Joseph meets Elizabeth who comes to the house offering books for the children. He appreciates the gesture. [2] Elizabeth later takes him aside and talks to him about Angela joining her at school. He insists that Minnie wants to homeschool and won't give in. He repeats Elizabeth will have her hands full with Cooper. [2]
During the car ride home after Cooper introduced himself at school, Joseph, Minnie and Angela talk about Angela possibly going to school. Joseph thinks Elizabeth is a great teacher and thinks Angela should go. When Minnie brings up her worry that the school children will treat Angela badly like they did at her old school, he reminds her that they moved for a fresh start and that won't happen here. They both feel like they are at home now though. [2]
Minnie and Joseph are talked to by Elizabeth about how Cooper is doing in school. He's doing well, above his grade level. She invites both of them, Cooper and Angela all to the graduation ceremony. When Minnie doesn't think Angela should go, Elizabeth assures her that it would be a great opportunity for Angela to get to know some of the school children. Minnie and Joseph do go to the graduation bringing Cooper and Angela as well. Angela has a wonderful time leaving Minnie to rethink keeping her at home away from her new found friends. [3]
Cooper pushes his sister on the new swing at their home. Their father put it up for them. It's all fun until he pushes a bit too hard and Angela falls off the swing. Worried, his parents rush her to the infirmary to see Carson. She will be fine but Minnie shares the story of how Angela became blind because of a racist doctor who wouldn't treat her illness. [4]
Later Minnie finds Joseph praying. He is upset because he blames himself for Angela falling off the swing. He says he was not watching her closely. Minnie becomes worried that Elizabeth cannot handle caring for Angela. Joseph tells her to trust Elizabeth and trust that Angela is in God's hands. [5]
Joseph speaks to Jesse about his relationship with Clara. Jesse says the number one person in his relationship is Clara but Joseph said that it shouldn't be that way. He said that both Jesse and Clara are equally important and are the legs that are held together by God who is the crossbeam. He said most couples just leave God at the altar after their wedding day but that should not be the case. Jesse asked Joseph if he was a pastor and Joseph doesn't deny it but instead said that's another story for another day. [4]
When Ned collapses as he is very sick, Joseph asks Florence permission to hold a prayer vigil. She consents. Joseph goes to the saloon to ask Elizabeth's permission to use the school for the vigil. She agrees and Lucas goes with him to get things set up. While they are setting up, Lucas inquires to Joseph if he is a pastor. He seems hesitant at first to admit that he is since it often changes people's opinions of him. He insists that pastoring is not his first priority, Lucas lets him know there is an opening for one in town. [6]
Clara goes to visit Joseph and admires the swing Jesse helped to build. While she is there, Joseph gives her some advice about their marriage, "You cannot unite a marriage while split apart." He suggests she asks Jesse to move back in with her. He encourages her to enjoy their time together and discuss the money later. Then offers to be there for that conversation when appropriate later on. [6]
Minnie finds Joseph praying at the schoolhouse. She feels that Joseph is meant to be the pastor of Hope Valley. Joseph insists he left his last job where they lived before and does not plan to do pastoring. He wants to do something else. Minnie really insisted he should take the pastoring job. [6]
Joseph is busy doing 'honey to do list' items and Minnie rewards him with a lemonade. [7]
When Joseph tells her that the gas station is sold, Minnie reminds him to do the pastoring job. [8]
Lee comes to speak with Joseph. While there he confesses he's feeling useless these days as he isn't the one making the iteems but instead selling the ingredients. He wonders when, like Joseph, he will find his calling. Joseph assures him that everyone is unique and if he gets an open mind, he will find it. [9]
Minnie comes to talk to Joseph. She is wondering what they should do now that they know that Angela cannot attend school. Joseph feels they should keep going and never let anything get in the way of their daughter being all she can be. [9]
Joseph is working on redesigning Dottie's Dress Shop secretly to become Yost's Pharmacy and Ice Cream Shop.[10]
Joseph is having trouble interacting with his son, Cooper. Cooper is questioning his faith and Joseph struggles with requiring him to go to church every Sunday. [11] His wife, Minnie, tries to help the two mend their relationship. She comes up with the idea of having Cooper work with Joseph so they can talk and spend time together. He even puts a window backwards into Lee and Rosemary's office, just so they can return the next day and spend more time together. Cooper finally opens up about what is bothering him, Angela is blind but not him. Why? It is because a doctor would not treat Angela because of their color but Cooper couldn't be told that. [12] Cooper has to learn a lesson from Joseph about working despite owning something. [13]
Joseph notices a car drive into town with damages. He chases after the man and catches the man that hit Nathan! [14]
Joseph helps Lee in making the perfect surprise for Rosemary, a set of chairs! [15] He helps Elizabeth agreeing to make her a Book Wagon. [16]
Joseph supports his wife in her dream of owning Abigail's Cafe. He applies for a loan at Buxton Bank but gets denied. He tells Lee about it very upset but Lee makes phone calls of his own getting the bank to give him a loan by co-signing for it. Joseph is not aware of this fact at first. [17] He finds out and is upset. [18]
Joseph prays for Rosemary who asked him to do so for her to have a baby. Joseph assures her that God answers every prayer but sometimes it's not the answer we expect. [19] Joseph also prays with Henry while he is in jail. He helps Henry to feel as though a weight has been lifted. [20]
Minnie and Joseph share a picnic where they discuss how Minnie's father does not approve of Joseph. He refuses to take anything from him wanting to prove he can do it all on his own. Minnie persuades him to talk to her father to go into business with him. [21]
Season 10[]
Joseph had been working closely with Lee Coulter at the lumber mill, and Lee was planning to make him a partner in the company. At the same time, however, Joseph began to feel the call to full-time ministry and wanted to take on a second congregation. He thanked Lee for the offer to become partner, but he had to decline. Joseph baptized Goldie Coulter at the end of Season 10.
Season 11[]
Joseph was able to provide a sympathetic ear and wise advice to Henry when Henry was considering whether he should join Lucas as political team.
After some meddling by his children, Joseph got back in contact with his estranged brother Jacob. Jacob visited Hope Valley and the two brothers were finally able to repair their relationship.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Minnie Canfield (wife)
- Angela Canfield (daughter)
- Cooper Canfield (son)
- Jacob Canfield (brother)
Romances[]
Friends[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ S8E2. Honestly, Elizabeth
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 S8E4. Welcome to Hope Valley
- ↑ S8E5. What the Heart Wants
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 S8E6. No Regrets
- ↑ S8E6. No Regrets
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 S8E7. Before My Very Eyes
- ↑ S8E8. A Parade and a Charade
- ↑ S8E8. A Parade and a Charade
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 S8E12. The Kiss
- ↑ S9E1. In Like a Lion
- ↑ S9E1. In Like a Lion
- ↑ S9E2. Out Like a Lamb
- ↑ S9E10. Never Say Never
- ↑ S9E4. Straight from the Heart
- ↑ S9E5. Journey into the Light
- ↑ S9E6. Past, Present, Future
- ↑ S9E7. Hope Valley Days, Part 1
- ↑ S9E9. Recent Memory
- ↑ S9E10. Never Say Never
- ↑ S9E12. Rock, a Bye, Baby
- ↑ S9E12. Rock, a Bye, Baby