THE former Archbishop of York, Dr Stuart Blanch, died yesterday after
a long illness. He was 76.
Lord Blanch, who was made a life peer in 1983, was archbishop from
1975 to 1983. He spent his last days in a hospice near Banbury,
Oxfordshire.
His successor, Dr John Habgood, paid tribute to Lord Blanch, saying:
''He had a great gift for friendship and an engaging humility, which
made it easy for people to come close to him.
''His love of the Old Testament and his skill in expounding it will be
long remembered, as will his humour and his ability to inspire.''
Dr Habgood added: ''He did not enjoy the formality that went with
being an archbishop. Instead, he brought to his task a warmth and
openness for which his memory will be treasured.''
He said Lord Blanch and his wife Brenda had ''much suffering to bear
in recent years''.
Lord Blanch was president of the Church's Ministry among the Jews.
He was a former Bishop of Liverpool and earned a reputation as a plain
speaker.
He believed the Church should be fully involved in society and
unafraid to express its views.
During his enthronement service at York Minister, he criticised
politicians and ''pleasure-seekers'' for contributing to a sense of deep
despair in the West.
In 1981, he claimed the Church had failed to lead the nation.
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