17/02/2024
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, has announced with great sadness the unexpected death of his colleague, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham.
Paying tribute to Bishop Alan, Bishop Steven said: “Alan was a dear friend and colleague to many across the Diocese. 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.”
Bishop Alan 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 in Sonning and then Bishop of Buckingham.
Prayers were said for Bishop Alan and his family during tonight’s evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. Arrangements for further acts of remembrance will be announced in due course.
The Archdeacon of Buckingham, the Ven Guy Elsmore, who worked closely with Bishop Alan, said: “On behalf of the Bucks Area Team, my deepest sympathies to Lucy and the family at this time of shock and loss.
“Along with Alan’s other colleagues and the clergy and lay people of Buckinghamshire, I am deeply saddened by this unexpected news.
“We have lost a courageous, wise and exceptional pastoral leader and teacher. Alan’s ministry was centred in people, in valuing every person he met and in the quest to expand the circle of the Church’s love to embrace all. He will be deeply missed by us all.”