Bishop Clarence Mitchell 1925–2019

Bishop Clarence Malcolm Mitchell, retired suffragan bishop of the diocese of Niagara, died  December 17, 2019. He was 94.

“Bishop Clarence was a faithful and dedicated servant with a special heart for our shared musical language of the church,” reflected Bishop Susan Bell. “His commitment to and encouragement of lay leaders is remembered fondly and appreciatively by those whom he influenced across the church.”

Born in Port Dover in 1925, Bishop Mitchell studied at Western University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1953 followed by a Licentiate in Theology from Huron College in London. Passionate about church music, he was ordained a deacon in May of 1954 and a priest in November of that same year. He served a number of Niagara parishes, including Holy Trinity, Welland, St. John’s, Port Dalhousie, St. Christopher’s, Burlington, Church of the Ascension, Hamilton and St. George’s, Guelph. 

In 1964 he was appointed an honourary canon of Christ’s Church Cathedral and later served as Archdeacon of Wellington. Bishop Mitchell was consecrated a bishop on June 8, 1980 and served as suffragan bishop alongside Archbishop John Bothwell until his retirement in 1990.

In addition to his ministry appointments, Bishop Mitchell served in a number of roles, including as a member of the board of the Halton Children’s Aid Society and as its president, as the secretary of the national House of Bishops, and as a senior fellow with Renison College. He was awarded the Centennial medal as well as an honourary Doctor of Divinity degree from his alma matter, Huron College.

Bishop Mitchell devotedly served the Diocese of Niagara throughout his six decades of ordained ministry.