The Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador died unexpectedly last month. Sources in the diocese tell Anglican.Ink the bishop took his own life.
On 8 October 2020 the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Linda Nicholls announced “we learned of the death of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Curtis Ralph Peddle, Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Bishop Geoff had served over many years as a parish priest, diocesan executive officer, and provost and vice-chancellor of Queen’s University. He became bishop of the diocese in 2014 bringing his passion for the mission of God to the life of the parishes in the diocese.
We ask your prayers for his wife, Kathy, and sons, Benjamin and Adam, in their grief and for the whole diocese as they mourn the loss of their bishop.”
No cause has yet been given by the national church or diocese, but sources report Bishop Peddle (57) had been afflicted with depression. Queries to the administrative archdeacon of the diocese asking for confirmation of these claims have not been answered.
The CBC reported Bishop Peddle announced last August his intent to retire at year’s end. It reported: “His own father had recently died, along with the birth of his first grandchild, and in the candid and personal letter Peddle reflected, ‘with all that has happened in such a short period of time, I feel that the landscape of my life has been reshaped in ways that I cannot yet measure’.”
The diocesan webpage reports the bishop was survived by his wife Kathy and son Adam and family. “Cremation has taken place. There is no visitation at this time and a funeral service will be planned for when friends and family can gather.”
The diocese asked that mourners “Please give thanksgiving for Geoff’s life by taking the time to speak with a friend, to share a coffee, drink or meal together, enjoy a good book or a bad movie, or take a walk in nature – all the things Geoff loved. Be kind to one another. May there be many moments of grace for us all as we make our way through these bewildering and sorrowful days. Even though Geoff’s light has changed- it is still everywhere and in every place.”
