A tribute to Rt Rev'd John Austin
Rt Rev'd John Austin died on Friday 17th August 2007, aged 68. He had been ill for some time and died peacefully in hospital in Suffolk.
Bishop John was until recently the Assistant Bishop of Leicester, a position he had held since October 2005.
His ministry in the Diocese of Leicester was chiefly to assist Bishop Tim to minister to the 200 clergy of the diocese and more than 300 parishes.
Whilst only being present in the diocese for a brief time, Bishop John was much loved and respected by many throughout the city and county for his warm and friendly personality, and his encouragement of all people.
He was a man of deep spirituality who bore the news of his illness with great courage.
Bishop John had been ordained for 43 years, focusing much of his ministry in urban settings and on issues of social justice in the Dioceses of Southwark, St Albans, London and Birmingham.
As the Suffragan Bishop of Aston in the Diocese of Birmingham for 13 years, Bishop John had a particular concern for inner urban and outer estate parishes working alongside clergy and church workers, many of whom faced very demanding tasks. He was greatly valued for his humour and gentleness. He also chaired many diocesan committees with firmness and wisdom.
During the latter part of his time in Birmingham, he was chairman of St Basils Homeless Project – developing it as one of the leading charities in the country working with homeless young people. He also developed interfaith relations regionally and nationally and made many friends with faith leaders all over the city. Bishop John also chaired the Newtown and South Aston City Challenge bringing expertise and encouragement to many regeneration projects in the City.
Bishop John was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s envoy to China – a post he handed to Bishop David Urquhart, the present Bishop of Birmingham.
Bishop John was awarded an OBE for his contribution to interfaith relations in 2006.
Bishop Tim Stevens responded to the news of Bishop John’s death by saying: ”We have much to thank God for in the life and ministry of Bishop John. He was a man of great simplicity, generosity and passion. He avoided the political machinations of Church life, giving himself wholeheartedly and without reserve to the people and the communities in which he served. He had a sense of humour, a pastoral touch and a life of prayer which I believe marked him out as a very great human being, friend and bishop. May he rest in peace.”
Bishop John’s funeral was scheduled to take place at All Saints, Hartest in Suffolk, on Wednesday 29th August at 12pm.
There will be a memorial service in Birmingham in the autumn.
An announcement on how this diocese will remember Bishop’s John ministry amongst us will be made in due course.
Bishop John is survived by his wife Rosemary and their three children.
Rosemary can be contacted at Bell House, The Row, Hartest, Bury St Edmunds IP29 4DL.
