This is a comment I wrote to mark the death of Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Bucking ham, who died unexpectedly on 16th February 2024. Alan was a great support to so many people – but in particular to LGBT+ Christians, and survivors of church sexual abuse. He will be deeply missed.

“Alan Wilson was an extraordinary man. He gave great service in every ministerial post he held and combined a keen intelligence with a most remarkable pastoral sense. He was completely unaffected, one of the least ‘bishoppy’ bishops you could wish to meet. What he possessed, because of the Christlike servant nature of his ministry, was a palpable spiritual presence, genuineness and authority. In addition to all the ordinary duties of an area bishop in a very large diocese, Alan was also, as he put it to me once, a ‘kind of episcopal chaplain’ to two groups in particular who were close to his heart; LGBT+ Christians, and survivors of church sexual abuse – not least those being reabused by the way the church institutional treated them.

He told me that his commitment to supporting LGBT+ Christians began when he was appointed bishop alongside Jeffrey John. He was appalled at the way Rowan Williams allowed himself to be bullied into withdrawing Jeffrey’s invitation and, for Alan, it opened his eyes to the mistreatment of this whole population in the church, not least among its clergy. He had served as a prison chaplain, so he knew well that prison contained not only those who deserved to be there, but also many who had never really been given much of a chance because of their beginnings, or those who struggled with such severe mental health issues that they were ill-adapted to ‘normal’ life. His instincts were thus honed to be aware of all the people who didn’t ‘fit’, and those who seemed expendable for the sake of institutions. Out of this came his passionate care for the victims of church sexual abuse, and his advocacy for those who have found it so hard to get justice shaped around their needs.

I owe Alan a huge personal debt. When I took the interim bishop of Southwell and Nottingham to an employment tribunal over his withholding a licence which cost me a job in the NHS, Alan did not hesitate when contacted to ask if he would be a witness for my side. But he did far more than an ordinary expert witness would. He got to know me and Laurence, he offered us encouragement, he participated fully in planning our attempt to hold the Church of England to account. He came and stayed with us and held a garden party to celebrate our journey – even if it was ultimately unsuccessful. He was fun, he was funny, he didn’t take himself too seriously and he was generosity itself.

That is why I feel more than a simple sadness at his early death – it feels personal to me. And there are very many on social media who have similar stories to tell. I am so saddened for Lucy and his children – he died just as they were hoping to have more time with him. I know that in Alan I knew one of the saints of God – a very dear brother in Christ – a Mr Valiant-for-Truth. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

“So he passed over: and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”