Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones died on Sunday, April 18. Ordained deacon in 1967 and priest in 1968, he served as assistant curate and senior assistant to the dean of St. James Cathedral, incumbent of Epiphany, Scarborough, incumbent of St. Aidan, Toronto, regional dean, honorary assistant of St. Martin in-the-Fields, Toronto, canon of St. James Cathedral, and executive assistant to the Bishop of Toronto. Transferring to the Diocese of Ontario in 1991, he took up an appointment as the incumbent of St. George’s Cathedral, Kingston, and dean of Ontario and rector of Kingston. Elected Bishop Suffragan for Toronto in 1994, he served as area bishop, first in York-Scarborough and later in Trent-Durham. After retiring in 2008, he served a number of interim priest-in-charge appointments, including St. Jude, Wexford and St. Peter, Cobourg.
Mrs. Bonnie Bedford-Jones has been discharged from hospital and continues to recover from COVID-19 at home. She is grateful for your prayers.
Funeral arrangements, including a diocesan memorial service, will be announced in due course.
Bishop Bedford-Jones was a wonderful man. When I was a member of St. George’s Church in Newcastle, Ontario, he would often preach. His infectious smile and kind words will remain in my heart. Rest in peace and say hello to Father Eugene!
My deepest thoughts with B.J. family. Whenever we met, he always remembered our last meeting. Bishop, as I said on our first meeting, Once A Beacher Always A Beacher. Our conversation about living in the Beach were always great. May the Lord welcome you with open arms.
He was an amazing person with amazing stories I loved listening to. I will miss his great sense of humour and bigger than life personality! He will be missed.
I thought that he was wonderful each and every time I met him. Kind, gentle in word and thought; he came to assist at our church. I saw him at the New Year’s day levee with Bonnie. He shall be sadly missed and I am praying for Bonnie’s speedy recovery and complete rebound from this terrible virus. God speed and stay safe.
So shocked and saddened to hear this news. A wonderful man and dear friend to the Smale family at Church of the Epiphany Scarborough.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
We have just listened to “Father Michael” (as he will be for ever for us, as we knew him when he was a young curate at St. James’ Cathedral) and his sermon given on Lent 4 2018 at Christ Church Oshawa. We are full of wonder and thanks for his life and his infectious smile. He said himself that he had received lots of love in his life, but he gave it freely to everyone he met. Thank-you to God for his presence in our lives. Bonnie – may God be with you now in your sorrow.
Dear Bonnie,
Please know that you are in the hearts and minds of the fellow gardeners from the Garden Clubs and Horticultural Societies across OHA District 17 at the truly difficult time.
With deepest sympathies,
Debi Foster
Director, D17
Bonnie i am so saddened to hear of Michaels passing. I really enjoyed visiting him. My deepest condolences…
Just found out that Michael passed away from COVID-19. Goes to show that it can hit anyone, from all walks of life. Also noted that his wife was also infected. I never knew him, but do know that he was a great man and a wonderful bishop. My prayers are with his wife and family.
Jan Fitzgerald,
St Paul, Uxbridge