The Most Reverend Robert John Renison was born in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, into an ecclesiastical family on September 8, 1875. After his family emigrated to Canada, he was educated at Trinity College School and the University of Toronto.
Ordained as an Anglican priest in 1896, his first position was as a curate at the Church of the Messiah, Toronto. He later traveled to Fort Albany, Ontario, near James Bay, to serve as a missionary to the Cree First Nations in that area.
Renison served as the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Moosonee, located in Northern Ontario, until the outbreak of WWI. After serving as a military chaplain with the Canadian Infantry during the war, he returned to parish life as the Archdeacon of Hamilton.
Renison was appointed rector of Christ Church, Vancouver until 1929 when Christ Church was declared the diocesan cathedral. At this time Renison became the Dean of the Cathedral for New Westminster.
In 1931, Renison was elected Bishop of Athabasca but only held the post for a year. From 1932 until 1943 he held the position of rector of St Paul’s, Bloor Street in Toronto when he was elected the Bishop of Moosonee. At this time, during WWII, he again served as a chaplain with the Royal Air Force.
In 1952, Renison was elected as the Metropolitan of Ontario, a position he held until his retirement from active ministry in 1954.
A greatly respected leader in the Anglican church, Archbishop Renison died in Toronto, Ontario on October 6, 1957, at the age of 82, two years before Renison University College would be founded in his name. His name was chosen in recognition of his lifetime of service.
His wife, Elizabeth Renison, gave permission for the Archbishop's name to be used and participated in both the dedication of the original 'Renison House' on Albert St. in Waterloo as well as the cornerstone laying for the Founders Building on Renison University College's current campus.
Renison University College is the only college affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada to be named after a contemporary Anglican bishop.