Peter Holmes returned to the starting line up in place of Derek Holmes on a windy night at Gigg Lane that was to prove to be a disastrous affair.
But the Millers started quite brightly and won a second minute corner before a Chris O'Grady cross was headed out. A long ball from Marc Joseph saw Ryan Taylor head wide before Bury replied with Graham Coughlan clearing a cross.
On ten minutes Bishop had a great chance to open the scoring when he was left in the clear but Andy Warrington pulled off a brilliant save to deny him and a home free kick a minute later was caught by the keeper.
Back came the Millers with a Joseph cross just too hard for Holmes but it was Bury who opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Ian Sharps and Coughlan failed to clear the ball fully and Bishop scored with a well placed shot.
Pablo Mills fired just wide from almost 30 yards before a long ball over the top of the United defence left Hurst in the clear but he fired into the side netting.
Following a break O'Grady found Holmes who won a corner and then a couple more efforts from Mills were just off the target and following a Holmes cross Mark Hudson was almost on the end of it at the far post.
On 31 minutes the scores were almost level when Danny Harrison crossed for Holmes' header to be turned round the post and just before the interval Bury almost went two up but again Warrington denied Bishop with a brilliant save.
If the Millers had competed in the first half it all went wrong in the second as Bury took control with United left very much second best. Bishop had a 53rd minute shot saved easily before Mills delivered a cross from which O'Grady's shot was deflected for a corner.
That was to be the Millers last telling attack while Bury went close with Adams firing over the bar from 20 yards. The home team increased their lead on 63 minutes when Joseph slipped as he tried to cut out a pass and it let in Bishop who drilled his shot under the keeper.
It got worse three minutes later when the Shakers added a third goal when a corner was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area from where Adams hit a shot into the net through a crowd of players.
That lifted the home team into complete command as the Millers looked a well beaten team and a Peter Holmes free kick was saved. Following a corner Derek Holmes headed just wide but that couldn't halt the home team who were now enjoying their command and they forced three corners in quick succession.
Three minutes from time Bishop had a shot well saved and he was denied yet again by Warrington who pulled off a brilliant save to prevent the striker from completing his hat-trick.
The final whistle couldn't come quick enough to end a miserable evening for the Millers who made it just five points from a possible 30.
Bury: Randolph, Scott, Futcher, Haslam, Barry-Murphy, Buchanan, Sodje, Bennett (Parrish 90), Hurst (Rooney 73), Bishop, Adams. Subs: Provett, Baker, Yeo.
Rotherham: Warrington; Jospeh, Sharps (Tonge 70), Coughlan, Widdowson; Harrison, Mills (Ross 59), Hudson, P. Holmes; Taylor (D. Holmes 59), O'Grady. Subs: Oxley, Newsham.
Referee: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).
Attendance: 1,957 (310 away).
