New Wine leaders pay tribute to late founder

Moving tributes have been paid to New Wine founder Bishop David Pytches, who passed away on Tuesday night surrounded by his family. 

He died "after a sustained period of illness", New Wine said in a statement.

Pytches started New Wine with his wife Mary in 1989 and it grew to become a hugely influential charismatic evangelical movement. 

Commenting on his passing, current New Wine National Leader, Rich Johnson, said, "We are so thankful to David and his wife Mary for starting New Wine in 1989 as they sought to help churches experience renewal in the power of the Spirit and for all that has happened over the years as a result."

Former New Wine leaders, John and Anne Coles, paid a joint tribute to Pytches remembering him for his love for Jesus and the Bible, and for his "commitment to personal holiness, his persistence in prayer, his personal prophecies, and his willingness to give away everything with which God blessed him".

"He humbly, lovingly, and courageously pioneered aspects of church life and mission in the power of the Spirit which not only changed his own church and parish, but also became models for hundreds of church leaders and churches around the world," they said.

Vineyard Global Leaders, John and Eleanor Mumford, who were close friends with Pytches, said they were "saddened" by news of his passing. 

"For many Christians across this land, and for many far further afield across the world, he was a true Hero of the Faith," they wrote.

"Whether it was as the Anglican bishop of Chile, Bolivia and Peru, or the legendary vicar of St Andrews, Chorleywood he was the bravest of the brave and a true radical as he followed Jesus across land and sea!"

They added, "How many of us within the Vineyard and far beyond, have reason to rejoice over David's life and his friendship, and to thank God for the influence he has had on our own."

News
In memory of an Anglican canon who loved Jews
In memory of an Anglican canon who loved Jews

Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster remembers her dear friend and Broughton Park Jewish Christian Dialogue Group co-founder, Canon Andrew Shanks.

Exeter Cathedral service to celebrate Britain's fishermen and women
Exeter Cathedral service to celebrate Britain's fishermen and women

Britain's fishing industry will come together in Exeter next month for the country's first National Harvest of the Sea.

Most practising Christians are evangelical, study finds
Most practising Christians are evangelical, study finds

Evangelicals are “younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to be male than the wider population”, according to the 28-page report published by the Evangelical Alliance UK. 

Book of writings by Pope Leo XIV published
Book of writings by Pope Leo XIV published

The current pope had no published writings prior to his election.