Walsall's lay 'archbishop' dies after fall at home

Tributes have been paid to the lay chair of the Anglican Deanery of Walsall, Terry Bunn, who died unexpectedly on Monday following a fall at his home in Pelsall. He would have reached his 65th birthday next Monday.

The former Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Keith Sutton, once dubbed him 'the Archbishop of Walsall' during a speech and it didn't take long for the title to stick - despite the fact that Terry wasn't ordained.

The Rural Dean of Walsall, the Rev Jenny Hill, today paid tribute to Bunn, saying: "Terry had a knack of getting alongside people who weren't the easiest to speak to about Christianity. He had a common touch which was quite special.

"He was a tremendous networker and organiser and was always on the phone to a very large group of people, many of whom would never describe themselves as churchgoers."

She paid tribute to Bunn's unwavering commitment to maintaining unity within the deanery.

"Terry worked as hard as he could for unity and was very successful in doing so in what is a very feisty deanery with lots of obvious differences.

"He had very complex health problems but didn't ever let them, or his disability, get in the way of his pastoral ministry - in fact it was sometimes the very way that he was able to relate to others in similar positions."

Last year, Bunn became the first person to be honoured by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, with a lifetime award in recognition of more than 50 years dedicated service to the church and community of Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Rev Clive Gregory, added: "Terry Bunn was a remarkable servant of God who lived his faith in every aspect of his life. The Diocese of Lichfield, and especially the churches of his beloved Walsall Deanery, honour his inspirational witness and dedicated, life - long, service. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who loved him."

Bunn's association with the church began at the age of 12 when he became a server at his local church. He had become a prominent character in the life of the church in the West Midlands. Over the years Terry held many offices, from being church warden at Blakenall Heath to serving on various diocesan committees including the Bishop's Council, the board of directors and trustees of the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance.