COVID-19 claims retired Bishop Bedford-Jones

Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones, a former suffragan bishop in the diocese of Toronto, died April 18 from complications related to COVID-19.

Bedford-Jones and his wife, Bonnie, both contracted COVID-19 and were admitted to the ICU in Oshawa, Ont., the diocese of Ontario said in a series of email prayer requests March 31 and April 6.

In a statement sent out April 18, Michael Oulton, bishop of the diocese of Ontario, wrote that Bedford-Jones had fought a “courageous battle with COVID-19,” and requested prayers for Bonnie Bedford-Jones “as she deals with her grief and her own struggle with COVID-19.” His death was also announced April 19 by the diocese of Toronto, which added that Bonnie had been discharged from hospital and was recovering at home.

“Remembering with gratitude the life and ministry of Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones who died today after contracting COVID,” Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, wrote in a Facebook post. “May he Rest In Peace—a good and faithful servant of Christ as priest and bishop.” Nicholls succeeded Bedford-Jones as area bishop for Trent-Durham, in the diocese of Toronto, when he retired in 2008.

Bedford-Jones was ordained in 1968 and served in several Toronto parishes and as executive assistant to the bishop of Toronto. He was dean of St. George’s Cathedral in Kingston, located in the diocese of Ontario, from 1991-1993. Elected bishop suffragan in the diocese of Toronto in 1994, he first served as area bishop of York-Scarborough from 1994-2006, then as area bishop of Trent-Durham.