Colin Slee

Yesterday I picked up the news that Colin Slee, the Dean of Southwark, had died of pancreatic cancer. Colin Slee was a formidable champion of the liberal wing of the Church of England. He was probably best known by the wider public for his robust defence of Jeffrey John whose appointment as a bishop was derailed by the revelation that he was homosexual. I'm sure that if I had ever sat down for a conversation I would have disagreed with him on all kinds of things (not least his insistence that all cathedral clergy wore black) but somehow I feel the Church of England will be a less interesting place without him.

It seemed a rather sad irony that he died of pancreatic cancer in Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week. Only 3% of sufferers survive, mainly because detection is too late. Here in Morecambe we'll be helping with an event tomorrow, with prayers in church at 4pm, followed by a walk along the prom to the Midland Hotel. Events continue through the weekend.

Related articles

• The Very Rev Colin Slee obituary (guardian.co.uk)
• The Very Reverend Colin Slee (telegraph.co.uk)