John Christopher Cody was born in Ottawa on December 16, 1899, and spent his boyhood in the nation's capital. He attended St. Alexander's College in Ironside, Quebec, about ten miles north of Ottawa, the seminary in Montreal, and then the seminary of the University of Ottawa. He was ordained on May 26, 1923, in Ottawa. He was appointed curate of St. Patrick Church in Ottawa where he spent ten years devoted to the welfare of the parishioners, participated in many Catholic societies and gave catechetical instruction at the Ottawa Normal School. In 1933 he was assigned to a parish in Cantley, Quebec. Next he was transferred to Eastview, a French suburb of Ottawa.
On January 5, 1937, Pope Pius XI named him Bishop of Victoria, B.C. At 37 years of age, he was the youngest bishop in Canada. He spent ten fruitful years in Victoria Diocese. He visited the remotest outposts of the diocese and showed genuine interest in the forgotten person. During his episcopate he blessed four new churches and nine new chapels. Five new schools were opened, five new parish halls and three new rectories were built.
Three Eucharistic Congresses were held. He introduced five religious orders. He inaugurated the Diocesan "Veritas" Library, the annual sessions of the summer school of religious instruction, the official diocesan publication, "The Torch", and other activities which became annual events. During his episcopate new societies were formed, such as the Perpetual Help Credit Union, the Catholic Welfare Bureau, the Catholic Youth Organization, the Pontifical Association of the Holy Childhood, the Indian Cooperative and the Serra Club.
The renovation and redecoration of the Cathedral in Victoria were also undertaken. His final achievement was the raising of $100,000 for the Centenary Education Fund. The Centenary Celebration in 1946 was the most noteworthy Catholic event ever seen in the City of Victoria.
On April 6, 1946, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of London diocese. He succeeded Bishop Kidd, as the seventh Bishop of London on June 2, 1950. During his thirteen years as Bishop of London he followed the same pattern of activity as he did in Victoria, but accomplished much more. Thirty-eight churches were built, forty rectories and many classrooms were added to existing schools. Eleven of these new parishes were ethnic parishes to accommodate the immigrants who came from Europe after the Second World War. In 1961 he established the Diocesan Mission in Peru. Regina Mundi College was opened in 1962 and Christ the King College was established in London and Holy Name College for women in Windsor. Seven hospitals were helped to expand their facilities. In all he spent $50 million dollars in expansion.
He established immigration centres in London and Windsor. He opened the Mercy Shelter, later called Sundale Manor, operated by the Sisters of Mercy for unwed mothers in Chatham. He also established a federation of charities in Windsor and Villa Maria home for the aged in Windsor.
Because he believed that better citizens made better members of the church, he continued to foster the Catholic Youth Organization, the Young Catholic Workers and the Boy Scouts. It was his wish in 1952, that all parishes organize the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help the poor. Organizations begun by his predecessors, such as the Catholic Women's League and the Legion of Mary received his support and encouragement.
Although it was Bishop Kidd who invited Fr. Patrick Peyton of the Congregation of the Holy Cross to come to the diocese to direct the Family Rosary Crusade, Bishop Cody as the Coadjutor Bishop spared no effort to establish the daily family rosary in the diocese.
To meet special needs Bishop Cody invited additional religious orders to the diocese. Among them were the Priests of the Sacred Heart who built Sacred Heart Junior Seminary, established Sacred Heart parish in Delaware and operated the Catholic Immigration Centre in London. The Dominican Sisters of Bethany came to serve as housekeepers at Christ the King College. The Brothers of St. Aloysius Gonzaga also known as the Brothers of St. Louis, taught in St. Thomas, Aylmer and Sarnia. The Institute of Secular Missionaries from Spain served at Holy Family Retreat House in Oxley and in the diocesan Chancery Office.
He was also instrumental in the formation of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and promoted the Ontario Catholic Trustees Association and the Parent Teachers' Association.
In 1962 he celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a bishop. In recognition of his service, the Holy Father named St. Peter's Cathedral a basilica. During his episcopate the cathedral was completed to include towers, chimes, Our Lady Chapel and the Sacristy.
He developed a beautiful relationship with the other Christian and Jewish denominations in the diocese.
When Bishop Cody returned from the Ecumenical Council in Rome in 1963, he visited his beloved Regina Mundi Junior Seminary. After he addressed the students and had dinner with the staff, he went to the staff lounge where he lay down. He lapsed into unconsciousness and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in London where he died on December 5, 1993 of a massive brain hemmorhage.
Most Rev. Sebastianio Baggio, Apostolic Delegate to Canada was celebrant of his funeral mass. Most Rev. Philip F. Pocock, Coadjutor Archbishop of Toronto gave the eulogy. He was buried in the crypt at St. Peter's Seminary in London.