THE Rt Rev John Richards, a former rector of Holsworthy with Cookbury, has died suddenly, aged 70.
The first ever Bishop of Ebbsfleet, he was ordained deacon in 1959 and became a rector in West Devon in 1964. Known affectionately as JR, Bishop John had a deep and compassionate concern for parishes and parochial clergy.
He became the Bishop of Ebbsfleet in 1994 at a difficult time for the church. He exercised devoted pastoral care to those who had difficulty accepting the ordination of women to the priesthood across much of the South of England.
Bishop John leaves a wife, Ruth, two sons and three daughters.
A requiem mass will be held at 2pm in Exeter Cathedral today (Thursday).