Alan was a dear friend and colleague to many across the Diocese. He has served as Bishop of Buckingham for over 20 years. His entire ordained ministry was within the Diocese of Oxford as a curate in Eynsham, Vicar in Caversham and Sandhurst, Area Dean of Sonning and then Bishop of Buckingham.
 
Alan has deep friendships and pastoral relationships across both church and community in Bucks. He has offered remarkable leadership to our work in education and church schools over more than a decade. Alan has been a friend and advocate for victims of abuse and a strong ally and supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community for many years.
 
Alan had recently begun a well-earned sabbatical and was planning to use the time to plan and prepare for retirement in the next year. Alan loved God and loved God’s church with a rare passion. He was a bishop who prioritised the parishes and clergy in his care above everything else and served the people of Buckinghamshire with devotion over a long and demanding ministry.
 
I will miss him as a friend and colleague. The Church has lost a wise, pastoral and prophetic bishop.
 
We commend him to God’s grace and mercy. Alan is now at rest in Christ. We pray and offer our support to Lucy and those closest to him on this sad day.
 
In Christ and in hope of resurrection

The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford

Loving God,
Friend of the broken, the outcast and the hurting
Receive into your tender care our friend and brother Alan.
We give thanks for your abundant grace in his life and ministry.
We entrust Lucy, his family, friends and colleagues to your steadfast love.
We pray especially for the clergy and parishes of the Buckingham Area as they grieve their faithful pastor, friend and shepherd.
We pray for all who mourn.
Kindle in us afresh the hope of rest in Christ and resurrection to new and eternal life.
May Alan, your servant, rest in peace and rise in glory
Through Christ our Lord we pray,
Amen