A popular parish priest will be greatly missed after his death at home following a short illness.
Canon Timothy Russ served the congregations of St Anne’s in Wendover and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Great Missenden for 17 years, and was interred at the Eyre Chapel in Bath on last Friday.
Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton, said Canon Timothy showed great faith and equanimity after receiving the diagnosis three months ago that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, and gave thanks to God for Canon Timothy’s 41 years of priestly service in the diocese.
A member of the congregation who did not wish to be named said: “He was a very kind man and will be greatly missed by all of us.”
Following studies in Cambridge and Oscott, Canon Timothy was an assistant priest in St. Lawrence, Cambridge and St. Martin, Luton before becoming secretary to Bishop Charles Grant. Subsequently, he was parish priest of Our Lady of Peace, Burnham and, since 1996 of Great Missenden and Wendover. He was also Canon Theologian on the Cathedral Chapter.
Canon Timothy’s body was received into the church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Great Missenden during the afternoon of July 9 when Evening Prayer was celebrated, followed by a Mass at 8pm. The Funeral Mass was the following morning in a packed church with many priests and two bishops in attendance.