Picture remembering Presiding Bishop Grote’s last visit in Germany:
August 16, 1946 – November 24, 2016
Our most gracious Lord called our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Royal Grote, Jr., to his eternal home in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day. He peacefully departed this life in his sleep.
Words of condolence from several clergies and Lay-Reader of the REK Germany to the Memorial Service at the Church of the Holy Communion; Dallas, TX 75287 Dec. 13, 2016 – at 1pm
Download (with personal words and pictures of Priests and Lay-Readers):
Click: rek-germany-words-of-condolence-grote-v2
REC Germany / Anglican Church in Germany
During these days of mourning especially at the Memorial Service Tuesday Dec. 13 we – Clergy and Lay-Reader in Germany in Berlin, Erfurt, Nürnberg, Heidelberg/Buchen, Main/ Lörzweiler, Mönchengladbach, Neuss and Hamburg – will pray for Bishop Grote’s dear wife, Ellen, the whole Grote family, sons, daughter and grandchildren.
The Reformed Episcopal Church in Germany, which was much counselled and encouraged during our Presiding Bishop’s regular visits over the last 10 years and Skype Conferences, is now missing his godly leadership, wisdom, practical support and sense of directions.
As a bishop of an overseas diocese in Europe I personal miss his fellowship and friendship which was already establish in the early 8oth. May he rest with the Triumphant Church till we all meet again.
Bischof + Gerhard Meyer
Rev. Küttner
Dear Mrs Grote and family,
My warmest condolences for the sudden loss of your most beloved husband and father. Though I have met him only once during a Synod he impressed me deeply in his wisdom and the way he calmly and with a big heart dealt with people and arranged matters. For us in the Saint Benedict Seminary he will be unforgotten. May I assure you that you are enclosed in our prayers . And may our Heavenly Father comfort you and wipe away all tears as he does in the Heavenly realms where your husband and father now is.
The Dean of St. Benedict Seminary Schwarzenborn www.benedict-seminar.de
Winfried S. Küttner PhD
Rev. Thomann
With great mourning,
I learn this morning the passing away of our Presiding Bishop Royal U. Grote! I will pray for him at the next Eucharist of his remembrance and today the Vesperae Defunctorum. He was a very dear, sympathetic man and great bishop. R I P!
In Christ,
Rev. Günther Thomann, REC Mission Nürnberg.
Fr. James Crofts
May perpetual light shine upon him and may he and his family find peace.
I have met the Presiding Bishop Royal Grote a number of times. He was very supportive. It was always good to have fellowship with this great and godly man. I especially loved to hear him preach. Often short but sound in biblical doctrine and to the point. I will miss his very special visits to our diocese greatly.
Fr. James Crofts, Neuss / Düsseldorf
Rev. Winkler
I was deeply shocked when I so unexpectedly learned of the death of our dear Archbishop Grote. Allow me dear Mrs Grote and your family to send you my deepest sympathies. 10 years ago, I was ordained by Bishop Grote as presbyter, and I also received my M.Div. from his hands. As a matter of fact.. I have been looking at the „old“ pictures with the former Ordinarius two days ago once again. Our good God has now completed His life. May the Lord take him into His glorious Kingdom.
Stay protected in our Lord. Dear Bishop Grote.
My blessings.
Rev. Michael Winkler, Presbyter from Hamburg
Lay Reader Heiner
I have only experienced dear bishop Grote briefly but I do feel that he was a father and good shepherd in faith I feel with you in your deep mourning, as I lost my beloved wife in August due to cancer. May our heavenly Father take our beloved deceased into his arms!
And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, nor grief.
With cordial respect
Heiner Lingener,Lay-Reader, Cologne
Presbyter Kohwagner
Dear Mrs. Grote and family. I would like to express my deepest sympathy and condolence to the passing away of your beloved husband and father Archbishop Royal Grote. I have learned to know him in the collegiate of clerics. Here in Germany we cherished him as our REC Archbishop who gave us guidance and leadership in an understanding and fatherly way. We will greatly miss his presence, guidance and advice. May our Heavenly father grant him reward for all the benefits he gave to us. And may God bless you with peace and comfort.
Sincerely
Thomas Kohwagner, Presbyter, Mainz – Germany
Rev. Ayres
Dear Bishop +Gerhard,
blessings as you travel today, and please pass on my deepest sympathies to the Grote family when you greet them in Dallas.
Brothers, thank you all for your words of remembrance, which I found uplifting. I am very sorry I did not provide my own thoughts and condolences in a timely matter as we were all invited to do.
I am still in denial that Bishop Grote is no longer with us. I guess I met him when I was 16, attending what I believe was my second diocesan council with my dad. It was the year he was elected assistant bishop of the diocese. For many years, I saw Bishop Grote presiding over diocesan and general council meetings in the U.S., but I only truly got to know him after moving to Germany and interacting with him at our annual synod meetings. In that short time frame of five years or so, I found a genuine bishop, confidante and friend.
The insight and wisdom Bishop Grote brought each year in his teaching and preaching, but also in conversations at meal times and private sessions were the highlight of our meetings. His willingness to provide individual counsel and encouragement both in person and via Skype was a precious gift I am afraid I took for granted.
He was unassuming and unaffected, and his down-to-earth personality and genuine friendliness were an example to all of us of what spiritual leadership should look like. He consistently called us gently but firmly to focus on the heart of what we are supposed to be doing as clergy, which is to build the Church through leading people to Jesus. He reminded us that we are meant to find the Bride of Christ and take care of her so that we might one day present her to the Bridegroom. He spoke to us as a bishop, but more than that, he spoke to us as a brother.
I am deeply saddened that we have lost our brother. Indeed, I do not understand why God chooses to remove such men from us, when it seems we need them more than ever. But I pray the wisdom and love he imparted to us might not be lost, and that we might be granted grace to follow his good example, so that with him, we might be partakers in the heavenly kingdom. May he find eternal joy and peace in the presence of the Lord!
Rev. David Ayres, Berlin
Homepage REK / REC Germany: www.anglikaner.de
Mission Churches: http://www.rekd.de/index.php?id=33
Anglikanische Kirche i. D. 
