Reginald Hollis served faithfully as husband and father, priest, bishop, and archbishop of Montreal. Born in Bedworth, England, he served in the Royal Air Force before studying theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He attended Montreal Diocesan Theological College at McGill as an exchange student, was ordained to the priesthood in Montreal in 1956, and married Marcia Crombie the following year. He was appointed Anglican chaplain to McGill, where he also lectured in the Faculty of Divinity; assistant rector at St Matthias, Westmount; rector of St Barnabas, Pierrefonds; rector of Christ Church, Beaurepaire; and director of Parish and Diocesan Services for the Diocese of Montreal. He was elected Bishop of Montreal in 1975 and then Archbishop of the ecclesiastical province of Canada in 1989. In 1990, he resigned to serve as International Director of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, based in Orlando, and as Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida. Following removal of a benign brain tumour, he served for several years as Rector of St Paul’s, New Smyrna Beach. In 1997 he retired to Victoria, where he served part-time at St John’s, Duncan and St Philip’s, Oak Bay. Until recently he assisted at St Matthias, Victoria. He is survived by Marcia, his wife of 53 years, a daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren, and two sisters in England, Jean Hollis and Margaret Bennett.
Reg loved to preach, and his sermons focused on the love of God. While never loud, he was outspoken – and persistent – about being faithful to the Word. At home, he was gentle, patient, loving, humorous, and always kind. As priest and bishop, he showed the same qualities.
Funeral service to be held Monday, November 15, at 10:30am in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorial donations may be made to the Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund. Condolences may be offered at www.mccallbros.com.
17 Responses
Oh, dear Marcia and family,
I was searching online for your current address and came across the news of your
Reg’s passing… I was searching because my Gerald passed away on April 21, at home as the sun rose over the sea, and I was thinking to let you know of a Celebration of Gerald’s life at Christ Church Cathedral Montreal on October 16 .
I am so sorry to read of Reg’s health challenges, and send you my deepest condolences. My children all remember his kind gentle demeanour and his lovely Christmas sermons that they felt were warm conversations with them . I recall his quiet wit, profound faith and gift for sharing it. I remember driving Dorothy Lindsay to stimulating Bible Study with you. I remember your warm strength and Christmastime hospitality at Reg’s side . Heaven is a beautiful place for our beloveds to reconvene. Love yl you. Jean
I am very sorry to hear that Bishop Hollis has passed away. What a kind and wonderful man. I have just been telling someone that I still remember the prayer he asked us to say for ourselves “Lord, please be part of my life, I want you to be part of my life, and please make me an instrument of your peace…. We were getting confirmed at St George’s Church in St. Anne de Bellevue in the mid seventies. A wonderful prayer to have taught us. My condolences to his wonderful family.
I thought others might enjoy the story of a memorable children’s story given in the summer community of Metis Beach, Quebec. Bishop Hollis was invited to preach at St. George’s Anglican Church in the early to mid-1970s and he walked into the church holding two pieces of wood the size of book shelves, maybe an inch thick, 4 feet long by 12 inches deep. He held the children spellbound as he told the story of Billy Board and Peter Plank, how either couldn’t stand on end alone (which he demonstrated), but leaning one against the other he described how we need each other for support. It was and still is a simple yet powerful message, delivered with love and a sense of humour. I’m glad to have known him.
I was so sorry to read about the death of Reg, and I send the family my sincere condolences. I sat in the desk next to Reg, if I may be allowed to call him Reg, as I used to 65 years ago, in Form IVa at King Edward VI School, Nuneaton. I have very strong memories of sharing discussions with him, notably before and after our school church services. I am so pleased that he more than realised his ambition to join the Ministry.
I also remember that we both participated in the Harvest Camp near Stratford on Avon, which was organised by the War Agricultural Commission in 1944. I do not think we picked much fruit, but at least we enjoyed ourselves. Sincerely, Harry.
Dear Marcia,
I met Bishop Hollis in 1985 in Baltimore, when he was beginning to plan for the AFP conference in Montreal in 1988. I very much enjoyed that conference, and am grateful to him for seeing that it took place. I was chairman of the committee which did the planning for the Pittsburgh Conference in 1989, but was not active in AFP during the period that Bishop Hollis was International Director. AFP has been and all-volunteer organization since 2006, and I am corresponding secretary and web coordinator. I was very sad to find out just today of Bishop Hollis’ death. I learned about it because I’m translating the DOK Study Guide for newly forming chapters in Haiti, and there’s a wonderful poem by Bishop Hollis about “Praying the Baptismal Covenant” which he wrote in 1993. My condolences to you and all your family, and also thanksgiving for the work Bishop Hollis did with the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer.
Dear Marcia and Family,
I have only just learned of the passing of Bishop Reginald, and send you my belated condolences and sympathy. He was a good, kindly man, and may he rest in peace. God bless you all.
Jean Hanna
I was saddened to hear of Bishop Hollis’s death. I will be forever grateful for the encouragement he had given me from the moment I spoke with him about my call to be a priest. He saw qualities in me that I had not seen in myself.
I owe much of my love of scripture and good preaching to his example and direction.