Bishop John’s appreciation of Bishop Eric

(From the Chichester Diocesan Website)

The Right Reverend Eric Kemp (1915-2009)

Bishop Eric Kemp died peacefully on Saturday 28th November at the age of 94 after bearing increasing blindness and deafness in recent years with grace and fortitude. Bishop Eric was not only Bishop of Chichester from 1974 to 2001, but was also one of the most significant figures in a number of areas of Church of England life in the second half of the twentieth century. Many further tributes will be offered in the coming weeks, but I would like to mention in particular his contributions to the ecumenical movement, to the reform of canon law and to the establishment of synodical government. 

At a personal level, I have been grateful to Bishop Eric for his friendship, encouragement and tuition for the best part of three decades.  I thank God for the privilege of having known him and having been able to learn from his Christian devotion, his historical scholarship and his intellectual rigour. I pray now for him, that he may enjoy the fullness of heaven for which he longed, and for Pat whose companionship over the 56 years of their marriage was such an essential part of what he was able to offer.



+John
29th November 2009

Bishop Eric’s Funeral Service is at 11.30am on Friday December 18 th in the Cathedral