Christian Institute founder John Burns dies
Nicola Laver, Christian Institute
Christian Institute (CI) founder John Burn has died aged 86 following a long illness. His death on 25 October comes eight months after the sudden death of CI director Colin Hart in March.
Originally a science teacher, John’s work in improving standards in schools brought him an OBE for services to education. While a lay reader in the Diocese of Newcastle at Jesmond Parish Church, John was invited to be a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas.
Timothy Dudley-Smith: A life in three scenes
RT REVD TIMOTHY DUDLEY-SMITH OBE: 1926-2024
Timothy Dudley-Smith will be remembered best for his rich contribution to hymnody. He is widely-regarded as the greatest modern hymnwriter of the 20th and early 21st centuries. At his 90th birthday celebration, Pam Rhodes, presenter of BBC Songs of Praise, described his popularity as springing out of ‘his understanding of the human condition’.
Remembering Malcolm Laver
Luke Randall
Malcolm Laver, General Secretary of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) between 1988 and 1998, has died aged 87. He was a husband, father and grandfather.
Born in 1936, he served as FIEC’s Assistant General Secretary in 1979, before serving as General Secretary from 1988 until his retirement ten years later. During retirement, he helped form the FIEC Pastor’s Association, which he served as Secretary until 2002.