Former Bishop of Oxford Lord Harries dies at age of 89

Tributes have been paid to Lord Harries of Pentregarth, who died on Wednesday.

The Oxford Diocese said in a statement on Thursday morning that the former Bishop died after a short illness and a few weeks before his 90th birthday. 

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A former British Army officer, Rt Rev Richard Harries was the Bishop of Oxford from 1987 to 2006.

On his retirement, he was created a life peer, and continued his work in the House of Lords as Lord Harries of Pentregarth.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth (Image: Oxford Diocese)

A regular contributor to the Church Times for several decades, and to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day programme, he wrote 26 books.

The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, said: “Bishop Richard will be remembered by very many people across the diocese for his intelligence and kindness, his good humour, and his deep pastoral wisdom.

“He made a very significant impact beyond the life of the Church in the life of the nation through his ministry in the House of Lords and his writing and broadcasting, particularly on Thought for the Day.

“He made key contributions to Christian ethics and to interfaith relationships, particularly the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, both in Oxford and more widely.”

Lord Harries had been “one of the very best speakers” in the House of Lords, Bishop Steven said.

He added: “His speech on assisted dying in September stood out among scores of speeches that day for its clarity and compassion.”

Bishop Steven said the diocese “remained in debt to Richard for his gentle, encouraging leadership, inspiring appointments and skilled stewardship in his long ministry here”.

He added: “Like many others, I am deeply grateful personally for his encouragement and wisdom.

“We give thanks for Bishop Richard’s life and witness. We pray for his wife Jo and children Mark and Clare and their families.

“We grieve his passing and we give thanks for the sure hope of resurrection. May Richard rest in peace and rise in glory. Alleluia.”

The editor of the Church Times, Sarah Meyrick, who previously worked for the Oxford Diocese, said: “We will miss Richard Harries enormously at the Church Times.

“He was a public intellectual and a wonderful thinker. His pieces for us were always well argued and interesting — and always delivered to us on time. His most recent contribution was a thoughtful piece on the atonement for our Holy Week issue.

“At a personal level, he was modest, gracious, and a delight to deal with. In other words, any editor’s dream. He will be much missed and mourned by his many admirers.”

In one of his final articles for the Church Times, Lord Harries wrote: “This life is a journey and a preparation for something beyond it.

“What is beyond is not simply an extension of this life, or this kind of life lived elsewhere. It is that in which all things come together, which exists as an end in itself.”

Lord Harries was involved in a high-profile controversy in 2003 following his nomination of Canon Jeffrey John to the area bishopric of Reading who later declined to accept the post.

The appointment of the homosexual but celibate Canon had threatened a split in the Oxford Diocese with Conservatives calling for congregations to withhold money in protest.