The Rt. Rev. Grant LeMarquand has announced that the medical struggles of his wife, Wendy, require them to leave the Horn of Africa, where he has served as an assistant bishop since 2012. Wendy LeMarquand is a physician with more than 30 years of experience in general and tropical medicine.
LeMarquand, a Canadian who earned graduate degrees from McGill University, Montreal Diocesan Theological College, and Wycliffe College, had taught at Trinity School for Ministry since 1999 before accepting the invitation of the Most Rev. Mouneer Anis to become an assistant bishop based in Gambella, Ethiopia.
“It is with a heavy heart that today I must announce my resignation as the Bishop for the Horn of Africa within the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa,” the bishop wrote in a resignation letter read at the conclusion of the graduation of the Alexandria School of Theology at All Saints’ Cathedral in Cairo on July 29.
“This decision has not been taken lightly but after consultation with Bishop Mouneer, with spiritual counsellors, and with our medical doctors. Wendy and I will leave Ethiopia at the end of October this year, although our work for the diocese will continue for a time.”
“The reason for our needing to leave is that Wendy’s health has made it impossible for her to continue to live in Africa. As many of you know, a few months ago Wendy experienced terrible pain in her back leading her to seek medical testing and advice. The tests revealed five broken vertebrae and a broken rib. … Wendy’s doctors have been clear that returning to live in Africa would put Wendy’s lungs (and ultimately her heart) at grave risk. She will stay in Pittsburgh for the next two months while I continue to work in Ethiopia. She will come to say farewell during the month of October.”
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
