Church of England's Longest-Serving Priest Dies

A Staffordshire clergyman, who celebrated 70-years of priestly ministry last September, has died at the age of 98.

The Revd Raymond Bristow is believed to have been the longest-serving priest in the Church of England.

Until last October he was still assisting with services at St James' Church in Norton Canes, near Cannock.

He regularly celebrated the midweek Mass and assisted at the principal Mass every Sunday.

He was ordained a Deacon in Lichfield Cathedral in 1935 and was priested the following year. He served his first curacy at St Mary and St Chad's Church in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Speaking before a special service last year at which he concelebrated Mass with the Bishop of Ebbsfleet and the Rector of Norton Canes to mark his 70th anniversary as a priest, Father Raymond said: "They tell me it's a bit of a do, but I don't know much about it!"

Father Raymond Bristow died at Abbey Court Nursing Home on the night of Wednesday 25 July. The funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Father Raymond Bristow studied for the priesthood at Lichfield Theological College and was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral in 1935.