In 1982 Rutt, who was always strongly inclined to Anglo-Catholicism, voted against the unity covenant with the Methodist, Moravian and United Reformed churches."Clergy Veto Church Unity", The Times (8 July 1982): 1. In July 1985 he was introduced into the House of Lords."New Bishop", The Times (3 July 1985): 4. He retired on 1 October 1990 and went to live in Falmouth, in the Cornwall he had come to love. He died in his 87th year at Treliske Hospital, Truro.
