OBITUARY
Bishop Raymond Barry Jenks
July 1, 1938 – July 11, 2018
Bishop Barry Jenks, retired bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia, died the morning of July 11th.
He was predeceased by his brother Gordon, and daughter Susan. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their son Timothy (Heather). He also leaves his mother, Iris; sisters Beverly Fraser, Sherri Adams (Ron), and Colleen Trygg; son-in-law Stacey Myrah; grandchildren Jack and Angus Myrah, Helena and Silas Jenks, and Ashlyn and Tara Racine, as well as nieces and nephews.
Barry was born in Vancouver and spent most of his life and ministry on the West Coast. After his early schooling and studies at the Anglican Theological College he was ordained at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver in 1964, and began parish ministry on the Sunshine Coast. He served three parishes in the Diocese of B. C. before becoming the director of programme and executive assistant to the bishop.
Barry’s ministry was always expressed through his concern for the wider church—beyond the parish, diocese, and country. He was known for his support of social justice causes, including reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, environmental protection, and the alleviation of global poverty.
Barry was a member of the General Synod World Mission Committee and this led to his decision in 1987 to respond to a request from the Diocese of Guyana in South America to work as Director of Christian Education with responsibility for theological training. Those three years in Guyana were for Barry and Barbara, transformational and were a rich blessing on their future ministry together.
Following Barry’s return to Canada he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of B.C., and there began another amazing chapter in their journey.
Bishop Jenks highlighted the importance of global mission, encouraged an annual mission conference and initiated a partnership with the church in Myanmar—a partnership that enabled several exchange visits with Burmese Anglicans. He was a man of prayer and in 2002 invited the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine to be a prayerful presence in the diocese.
Bishop Jenks’ colleagues spoke of him as “highly respected and loved in his diocese,” of being “a real supporter and a real mentor,” and as a “very faithful person, not afraid to speak up on issues of concern to him.” His successor, Bishop James Cowan said of him, “he was known as someone who did not hesitate to open ‘the can of worms’ when gospel values required us to engage with them.”
In his retirement Bishop Barry enjoyed his time being a spiritual companion to those preparing for ordination.
In 2011 he was granted an honourary Doctorate of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology. When presented to him, he was praised for his “well developed passion for justice” and “deeply spiritual perspective on environmental and peace issues.”
The greatest joy of Bishop Barry’s life after retirement in 2003, was the opportunity to spend more time with Barbara and his beloved family. He was called “Bishop Barry” but his favourite title was “Grandad”.
“Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine”
Peace at the last
Grateful thanks to the staff at Victoria Hospice . . . they are a gift to us all.
Special thanks to Rev. Canon Kevin Arndt for his gracious care.
The Funeral Eucharist will be held on Thursday July 19 at 2:00 PM at The Church of St. John the Divine, 1611 Quadra Street
Memorial Donations may be made to:
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund
80 Hayden Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4Y 3G2
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bishop Raymond Barry Jenks 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: victoria, Province: Colombie britanique