Goodbye to Dean Roger
Sunday 25 September was the last day for the Right Rev’d Roger Bush as he retired as Dean of Truro. He chose some of his favourite music for his Farewell Sunday Eucharist and the service was followed by farewell speeches and a reception with the congregation and clergy.
Dean Roger entered the ministry thirty-six years ago, was ordained deacon in Derby Cathedral in June 1986 and ordained priest a year later. After serving in parishes in Chesterfield and Leicester, he served in the Diocese of Truro for twenty-eight years, as Rector of Redruth with Lanner and Treleigh, Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral, Archdeacon, and latterly as Dean, a role he had for 10 years.
Canon Alan said ‘As a cathedral, we will miss Roger’s thinking and his laughter – if not his terrible jokes. I’ve been around in ministry for 26 years and I have known of him for all of that time and worked with him for many of those years. I will not be the only one who will miss the assurance of his presence with us in the office or pulpit – many people will. We all at the cathedral wish Roger and Lois well for this next step on their life pilgrimage’.
Dean Roger said 'The cathedral is a wonderful place to bring people together, for worship, for events, for volunteering, and it has been the greatest privilege of my life to have served at the heart of such a community for ten years.’
The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen said: “Roger was appointed Dean of Truro ten years ago and during that time he has served the cathedral community with a great deal of love and dedication. We thank Roger for his service and especially his humour, we pray for Roger and Lois and we wish them all the very best for a relaxing and well-deserved retirement.”
Comments from well-wishes have flooded in including on social media
‘Wonderful Dean thank you for your love of music and gentle fun approach to all things spiritual. Enjoy your retirement’
‘Wishing Roger a very happy retirement. You have been a smiling and welcoming face there for so many years, on my visits to the cathedral to perform with Three Spires Singers. Your sermons were always enjoyable, thought-provoking and peppered with light humour! Thank you.’
‘Thank you Roger for your dedication, support and inspiration. You will be greatly missed’
‘Thank you Roger for everything. You are nothing short of amazing. Someone who encourages and inspires with a smile. You will be a big miss and wish you all the very best for the future’
Among other things, during his retirement, Dean Roger hopes to continue his poetry writing. His poetry book, Blackbird, was published earlier this year.