The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Bishop Ted’ displayed many different talents
In the death at 97 in Monifieth of Bishop Lawrence Edward Luscombe, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has lost one of its most outstanding servants.
Bishop Ted, as he was known, served as Bishop of Brechin from 1975 until retirement in 1990 and as primus from 1985 to 1990.
He had been provost of St Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee until his election as bishop following earlier ministries in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway.
Ted’s later years were spent in Tealing with his wife Doris, where he immersed himself in local life.
He was a prolific author of books on church history but wrote one book about the work of Forfar botanist George Don.
Ted and his family were also proud of their strong connections with Dundee University.
Doris (Morgan) graduated from St Andrews and Dundee before becoming an Army surgeon during the Second World War.
Their only daughter, Jean Sutherland, graduated in law from Dundee. Her son, Edward also graduated in law from the university and her other son, Dr James Sutherland is on the staff of the university.
In late February, while Ted was ill, James’ wife gave birth to her first son and he was named Lawrence in his honour. He was unable to meet him but was able to see photos and take part in video calls.
His books focused on the development of the Episcopal church and its notable 18th and 19th century clergy.
His years in Brechin saw the most remarkable resurgence in the life of the diocese and of its cathedral.
Against the trend of the day, Bishop Ted opened up new churches, encouraged the vision of shared ministry and equipped women and men to participate in the worship and life of the diocese.
As primus he not only gave the church an increasing confidence in its identity but encouraged the church into a fuller engagement with the needs of the world around.
All who came to know him were the better for the acquaintance and every situation he encountered he left in a better state than he found it.
This was true of each part of his life – as an Army officer in India; as accountant and senior partner and in his service prior to ordination as administrator in the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway.
Born Lawrence Edward Luscombe in 1924, he attended Torquay Boys’ Grammar School and then Kelham Theological College before seeing active service with the British Indian Army during the Second World War.
It was at the North-West Frontier he met his future wife, Doris. He was being treated for dysentery and she helped him back to fitness.
The couple married in India in 1947, the year he left the Army having reached the rank of major.
He qualified as a chartered accountant on March 26 1952, the day his daughter Jean was born and was a partner with Glasgow firm Galbraith Dunlop & Co before leaving the profession to resume theological studies. He was ordained deacon and then priest at St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow in 1963 and 1964.
In 1971, he moved to Dundee where he held the position of provost of St Paul’s Cathedral until he was consecrated Bishop of Brechin.
He was later elected primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a position in which he served until his retirement in 1990.
Ted’s beloved wife Doris predeceased him after her own long and distressing illness which they faced together as the strong team that they had always been.
In a real sense Bishop Ted never did retire but maintained a concern for the church he loved and its relevance.