Canon John Bentham – update with funeral information


August 13th, 2019

Updated on Tuesday 27 August to include funeral information

It is with great sadness we share with you the news that the University’s Chaplain Canon John Bentham died on Tuesday 6 August of a suspected heart attack.

The funeral, a thanksgiving service for John’s life, will be held at 2pm on Wednesday 4 September at St Mary’s Church in the Lace Market.

The service is open to anyone who would like to attend, however the family have asked for an indication of numbers.  If you would like to attend, please let Hayley Crawford know via email by lunchtime on Friday 30 August.

John had been a long standing member and co-ordinator of our Chaplaincy team where he provided invaluable, loving chaplaincy and pastoral care to our staff and student community over the last 21 years. He will be greatly missed by many within our community and especially by the Chaplaincy team who worked alongside him.

John was a Cathedral Canon at Southwell Minster, served as the Area Dean in the old Nottingham West Deanery and then as Area Dean for West Bingham, he was also on the Bishop’s Council for a number of years. He was ordained Deacon in 1985 and ordained priest in 1986. John served as Curate in the Ripon and Leeds Diocese before being appointed Priest in Charge at St Saviour’s Nottingham in 1990, he became Vicar in 1992 and served there until he became Chaplain here at the University in 1998.

John leaves a wife, Marianne, and four children – Alice, Henry, James and Rosie.

Colleagues can pay their respects by signing a book of condolence, which is being held in the Registrar’s office in Trent Building, and a memorial service to celebrate John’s is being planned for the near future.

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12 Comments

August 14th, 2019 at 8:45 am

Tom Gray

This comes as a shock to us all. John was always generous with his time, reaching out to all on the campus, whatever their belief. I am very grateful for the short time I knew him, for his prayers and kind words, and the thoughtful and deliberate way he brought the light of Christ to the University. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends – he will be greatly missed.

August 14th, 2019 at 12:03 pm

Paul Barrow

I was very shocked to get this news. John was not very old at all. I had dealings with him through the Animal welfare Committee and he was always very gracious and kind. He will indeed be missed. We all need to make the most of the time that we have. There but or the grace of God ……

August 14th, 2019 at 7:43 pm

Chris Nuttall

My heart goes out to Marianne and the children. John was a great help and support to me at Holy Trinity, Lenton when I was churchwarden there. He is also the only cleric that I ever had to take to A & E when he injured his tendon whilst preaching at the Priory Church! I am grateful to God for His servant John and sad to think that others will no longer benefit from his ministry.

August 16th, 2019 at 12:55 pm

Helen Taylor

I was most saddened to hear this news. I worked closely with John in my previous role as Development Director, where John was a great mentor and a willing member of Council, generously sharing his expertise and knowledge. He will be very much missed. Thinking of Marianne and his four children at this time.

August 19th, 2019 at 12:59 pm

Kristian Bennett

Always a friendly face around the Portland Building, a really pleasant gentleman who will be missed my all, such tragic news.

August 22nd, 2019 at 5:18 pm

Richard Bell

I was shocked to receive this news. My thoughts are with John’s family and all those close to him. RIP.

August 30th, 2019 at 1:23 pm

Charlotte Kingsbury

How terribly sad for everyone who had their lives touched by John, and especially his family. He had such a caring, inclusive approach and brought warmth, willingness and wholeheartedness to all his activities here (and no doubt elsewhere). I was lucky enough to work with him while in two separate roles, first in the Vice Chancellor’s Office and then later while working in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion out of HR. Thank you John, and may your family find some measure of peace and solace in knowing how well regarded you are and will remain.

September 8th, 2019 at 10:01 am

Roger Murphy

I am very sad to hear of John’s untimely death and wish to express my sincere condolences to Marianne and John’s family, friends and colleagues. I was involved in the appointment processes when the University of Nottingham appointed two new Anglican Chaplains in 1998, and we knew then how fortunate we were to get John as a new colleague. He moved to the University from his previous post in the Meadows in Nottingham and immediately was able to share some really interesting insights as he made a journey from an area of considerable social deprivation to the elite setting of a Russell Group University. John made a massive contribution to the work of the Chaplaincy team, and made numerous valuable contributions in supporting staff and students across the rapidly expanding University. There were some fabulous tributes to John at his funeral service last Wednesday, capturing his many strengths as a human being, father, husband and very faithful Christian leader. He will be missed by many, and he leaves an extraordinary legacy including his 21 years of service to the University of Nottingham, where has led and developed an Ecumenical Chaplaincy Team with vision, tact, wisdom and a strong collaborative spirit.

September 8th, 2019 at 2:19 pm

Olu Ojedokun

I worked with John on the University Committee for the Chaplaincy Supervisors, its with shock that i learnt of his passing. He was a good listener and an excellent chair, who offered support to my team members Liz Middleton and Rachel Chard. He will be missed.

September 8th, 2019 at 2:35 pm

Olu Ojedokun

I worked with John on the University Committee for the Chaplaincy Supervisors, its with shock that i learnt of his passing. He was a good listener and an excellent chair, who offered support to my team members Liz Middleton and Rachel Chard. He will be deeply missed.

November 4th, 2019 at 3:21 pm

Mahomed Hassan

Feel sad to hear this news. John helped with instalment of an Ablution facility in Kings Meadow Campus. Rest in peace! <3

March 9th, 2022 at 7:25 pm

Rob Faulkner

John was my friend. We met in our first week as freshers at Loughborough University, and remained life-long friends.
The Scriptures tell us to be careful about calling a man ‘good’, but John was a good man, and thousands of people, particularly the young, were introduced to the Saviour as a result of his quiet, dilligent and faithful ministry.
I will miss him for ever.

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