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It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of the Right Reverend Robert F. Bennett, the Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Huron.  

Bishop Bob passed away on Monday, April 14, in his home in London, Ontario. His sudden departure leaves his immediate family deeply grieved – his wife of 53 years Kathleen, and their daughters Meghan and Jessica with their families. The entire Huron family grieve with them and treasure the memory of Bob Bennett’s decades of dedicated service.  

Robert Bennett spent his entire church life, spanning for more than 50 years, in the Diocese of Huron. He was deaconed on May 1, 1974 and ordained priest a year later. For almost three decades, he served parishes in different parts of the Diocese and provided various ministries – from Trinity Simcoe (serving Woodhouse and Port Ryerse), to the parishes of Chesley, Paisley and Tara in Bruce County, to St. George’s of Forest Hill in Kitchener. Later he was appointed to Brantford, as the Rector of St. Mark’s Church, where he also served as the Regional Dean and later as the Archdeacon of Brant. 

His longest serving post as a priest was in Essex. In 1991 he was appointed the Rector of All Saints, Windsor. He became Archdeacon of Essex in 2000.

Robert Bennett served as the Eleventh Suffragan Bishop of Huron from 2002 to 2008. On January 10, 2009, he became the Twelfth Bishop of Huron, heading the Diocese for eight years, until November 2016, when he retired. 

Deeply immersed in the life of the Diocese of Huron, Bishop Bob remained active in church service after his retirement. His last appointment was at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, as Interim-Bishop-in Charge, in 2022 and 2023. 

Please keep Kathie, Meghan, and Jessica and their families in your prayers.

Details of the funeral service for Bishop Bennett will be announced at a later date.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord. And let light perpetual shine upon him. May he rest in peace. 

Rt. Rev'd Todd Townshend