Winchester Cathedral has released details of the memorial service for one of its former bishops.

John Taylor, 86, bishop from 1975 to 1985 - who died on January 30 after a long illness - will be honoured with a service of thanksgiving on Saturday, April 7, at 2.30pm.

As a result of the likely numbers who will wish to come to this service, tickets will be issued.

Anyone wishing to attend, should write to the Cathedral Office, 1 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LS, telephone 01962 857210 or e-mail: cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk.

A quiet funeral, for family and friends only, will be held in the Chapel of Magdalen College, Oxford, on Friday, February 9, at 2pm.

Bishop Taylor's long and close involvement in working with Africans, led to his becoming general secretary of the Church Missionary Society for 11 years from 1963 to 1974. He was the first priest to be consecrated directly to being Bishop of Winchester since the Middle Ages, and much respected throughout this time and beyond.

The Bishop of Winchester, the Right Reverend Michael Scott-Joynt said: "John Taylor is still widely respected and valued. Throughout his ministry, he was deeply committed to the Church's mission worldwide. He first went to Uganda in 1945 and there, as general secretary of the Church Missionary Society, and in retirement, he has been a prophetic figure and a theologian of the church's mission, both in the Anglican Communion and in Europe.

"His and Peggy's marriage has been a wonderful blessing to many people.

"In Winchester, people will remember pre-Lambeth Conference programme in 1998, and his speaking at the Church Missionary Society Festival in the cathedral more recently."