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13 May 2005

The Rt Rev. Hugh William Montefiore died this morning, the day after his 85th birthday. He was taken ill towards the end of Thursday 12 May and died in St George’s Hospital, Tooting, London, a few hours later.

A Memorial Service for Bishop Hugh will be held in Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 16 June at 2pm.

Ordained deacon in 1949 and priest in 1950, Bishop Hugh had a varied ministry in Newcastle, Ely and Coventry Dioceses before being consecrated Bishop of Kingston in 1970. He went on to become Bishop of Birmingham in 1978 where he served for nine years.

Bishop Hugh was a member of the Urban Bishops Group that helped to commission the influential "Faith In The City" report and was the Chair of the Church of England Board for Social Responsibility between 1983 and 1987.

Upon his retirement he returned to live in Southwark Diocese and was active as an Assistant Bishop and on various Boards and Councils of the Diocese right up until his death.

On hearing of Bishop Hugh’s death, the Rt Rev. Dr Tom Butler the Bishop of Southwark said, "Bishop Hugh was a much loved and revered presence here in Southwark Diocese. Many look back and remember, with fondness, the time that he was Bishop of Kingston, some five years of which coincided with the time that the Rt Rev David Sheppard was Bishop of Woolwich. He was a man of great intellect and care and concern for those around him and the environment in which we live. I have valued his friendship and assistance in these last years and he will be greatly missed by all."

Bishop Colin Buchanan, former Bishop of Woolwich - who was Suffragan Bishop of Aston when Bishop Hugh was Bishop of Birmingham - said today, "In the death of Hugh Montefiore, ministering with seemingly undiminished powers until the day of his death, the day after his 85th birthday, the whole Christian world has lost a genius, one of the greatest thinkers, prophets, and leaders of the church in the 20th century – and that world seems emptier today through his departure from us. Those who knew loved him for who he was, and not simply for his abilities. We thank God for every memory of him."

Bishop Roy Williamson, former Bishop of Southwark said, "I was, of all Bishops, most fortunate to have such fount of wisdom, understanding and support during my time in the Diocese of Southwark."

NOTES TO EDITORS
Details of his funeral will be available in due course.

BIOGRAPHY:
The Rt Rev Hugh Montefiore
Born: 12 May 1920
1946: BA, St John College, Oxford 1947: MA
1948: Westcott House, Cambridge
1949: Deacon; 1950: Priest; 1970: Consecrated
1949-51: Curate, St George, Newcastle, Newcastle Diocese
1952-53: Chaplain and Tutor, Westcott House, Cambridge, Ely Diocese
1953- 54: Principal, Westcott House, Cambridge, Ely Diocese
1954-63: Dean, Gonville and Caius, Cambridge, Ely Diocese
1956-59: Assistant Lecturer in Theology, Cambridge University
1959-63: Lecturer
1959-69: Canon Theologian, Coventry, Cathedral, Coventry Diocese
1963: BD, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
1963-70: Vicar, St Mary w St Michael, Cambridge, Ely Diocese
1969-70: Honorary Canon, Ely Cathedral Ely Diocese
1970-78: Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, Southwark Diocese
1977: Aberdeen University Honorary DD
1978-87: Bishop of Birmingham
1985: Birmingham University, Honorary DD
1987- 05 Honorary Assistant Bishop Southwark Diocese

Ends.

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468