Tributes have been paid to former Bishop of Bermuda the Right Reverend Anselm Genders, who has died, aged 89.

Rt. Rev. Genders, of Mirsfield, West Yorkshire, served as Bishop of Bermuda from 1977 to 1982 and prior to that, was principal of Coddrington College in Barbados where many Bermudian priests were trained, including the recently retired Bishop, Ewen Ratteray, Canon Thomas Nisbett and Archdeacon Emeritus Dr. Arnold Hollis.

Dr. Hollis said of Reverend Genders passing: "I'm sorry to hear of his passing and I pray to God that he will rest in peace. He was very strict and very academic. He expected the best out of everyone that dealt with him.

Dr. Hollis said he had not seen Bishop Genders for some time, but when he used to live in the UK he kept in touch with him.

"He was to us all the 'prin', sharp in his responses but fairly considerate," said Dr. Hollis of his college days.

A member of the Anglican Church, Lawson Mapp said the Rt. Rev. Genders took him to the Holy Land in 1980. "I had a wonderful trip there," the former Mayor of Hamilton said.

Bishop Ratteray said: "I remember Bishop Genders to be a very disciplined man of prayer. I learned a great deal from him of what it means to be a priest.

"I have very fond memories of him and subsequently when he was here in Bermuda as bishop."

Bishop Ratteray said he had seen the Bishop Genders two or three years ago when he and his wife were in England and visited Mirsfield.

"We chatted for a while as I updated him on what's happening in Bermuda and the progress of my family as he was always very interested in my children progress.

He added: "It's been quite a while since he left Bermuda but people will always remember him as a strict but compassionate man."

Canon Nisbett, who was the first black priest in Bermuda, said: "He was the principal when I was accepted in Coddrington College in September 1959.

"He was a very good principal who was well liked by the students. I was especially close with him throughout the years because he was the one responsible for me being ordained as a deacon in 1962 and a priest in 1963."

Canon Nisbett recalled the days when he was nearing graduation from Coddrington saying that he was especially grateful to Rt. Rev. Genders who helped in his ordination to be a deacon.

"I was sent to Coddrington by Bishop Williams who was the Bishop of Bermuda at the time. However, when it was time for me to graduate he had retired and there was no-one in Bermuda to sponsor my ordination.

"Principal Genders wrote off to England to find me a sponsor but was unable to find one.

"He then spoke with the Bishop of Barbados, Louis Evans, who agreed to sponsor me, making me attached to the Diocese of Barbados for two years.

"I was also promised a position by the new bishop in Bermuda, Bishop Armstrong, after I completed my time in Barbados."

Canon Nisbett added: "He made me a Canon of the Cathedral in 1981 when he was here in Bermuda, and I will always remember him for his confidence.

"He never seem that worried about me not having anyone to sponsor me because he knew in the end that he could get the bishop in Barbados to sponsor me. I thank him for that."