The Rev. Canon John Fergueson, beloved rector of Redeemer for 30 years, died peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026. He was surrounded by his family and friends. Three priests gave Fr. John last rites, the Rev. Theresa Newell of Redeemer, Fr. John Forman from St. Elizabeth’s in Burien, and Fr. Michael Ryan from St. John’s in Kirkland.
The funeral will be on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:00 am here at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. The celebrant is the Rt. Rev. Philip LaBelle.
Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant, John; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, you will receive him more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Fr. John Fergueson
The Rev. Canon John Fergueson was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1944. He graduated from Albion College in 1966 with a Bachelor’s degree in biology. Later that year he entered the United States Marine Corps.
From 1967 to 1968, Fr. John served with the 15th Marine Counterintelligence Team in northern Quang Tri province in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he received his call to become a priest.
Upon returning home, Fr. John entered Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated in 1972 with a Master’s of Divinity degree in theology.
After ordination as a priest, Fr. John served at a mission church in the Ada-Cascade region of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later, Fr. John was Dean of the Cathedral Church of Christ the King. Following four years at Emmanuel Parish in Hastings, Michigan, Fr. John came to Church of the Redeemer in 1983. He retired June 1, 2014.
For the last 15 years of his ministry at Church of the Redeemer, Fr. John’s non-parochial energies had been devoted to the subject of spirituality and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He had participated in national psychiatric workshops on the topic. Fr. John works with veterans and others who are experiencing trauma issues on an ongoing basis. With Landy F. Sparr, he wrote the chapter “Moral and Spiritual Issues Following Traumatization” for the book Psychiatry and Religion: The Convergence of Mind and Spirit.
Fr. John and his wife Ginny lived in Bothell, Washington. They have two adult children, Susan and Dan.
Fr. John had a passion for adult education. He enjoyed jogging and lifting weights, and reads theology, history, and murder mysteries. His 30-year relationship with his spiritual father, a Trappist monk at Our Lady of the Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, was a continual source of inspiration and strength to him.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.