wfn.org | Bishop Leslie Stradling dies

[Theo Coggin, Quo Vadis Communications (2711)648-5461]

A former Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, the Rt Revd Leslie Stradling,
died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday 8 January at his home in Cape
Town, South Africa.

Bishop Stradling was just over a month short of his 90th birthday.

Born in Britain, Bishop Stradling had been Bishop of the then Diocese of
Southern Tanganyika before being consecrated as bishop of Johannesburg
in 1961.  He retired in 1974, and became particularly well known during
his retirement as a leader of retreats and writing.  He authored a
series of Lenten bible studies for many years.  

He celebrated his 50th anniversary as a bishop on July 25, 1996.

Prior to becoming bishop of Southern Tanganyika, he had served as a
parish priest in Britain.

Both the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane,
and the Bishop of Johannesburg, the Rt Revd Duncan Buchanan, paid
tribute to Bishop Stradling for the contribution he had made to South
Africa.

Bishop Buchanan said that Bishop Stradling had brought unique gifts to
the diocese at a vital time in its history.  He pointed out that his
episcopacy had coincided with the onset of the aggressive application of
apartheid, and that he had consequently been required to minister in
difficult times.

Bishop Buchanan will preach at his funeral, which will be held  at St
Saviour’s Anglican Church, Claremont, Cape Town, on Tuesday morning.

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Tel: (27-11) 648-5461/1093; Fax: (27-11) 487-1994
Cell: 27-82-900-0168
e-mail: coggin@sn.apc.org

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