Bishop Faber MacDonald playing the fiddle. (Courtesy of Archbishop Terry Prendergast)

Bishop J. Faber MacDonald, known for his talent on the fiddle, died Friday in Charlottetown at the age of 80.

MacDonald grew up in the tiny eastern P.E.I. community of Little Pond. He advanced in the church to become bishop of the Grand Falls diocese in Newfoundland before becoming bishop of Saint John diocese in New Brunswick. He retired in 2006. MacDonald was also an enthusiastic fiddler who played at folk festivals and was a friend of Natalie MacMaster, who wrote a reel in his honour and performed it at his installation as bishop of Saint John.

Terry Prendergast, archbishop of Ottawa, noted the passing of MacDonald in his blog.

"Following Confirmation services, he endeared himself to the faithful of his dioceses by playing the fiddle after the photos were done, then sitting down and chatting people up," wrote Prendergast. "He had a most distinctive and unmistakeable laugh, one that could fill a room!"

A funeral mass will be celebrated in Charlottetown Friday at 10 a.m. Memorial donations for Bedford-MacDonald House are being accepted.