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the very lowest part of our need”. Under his chairmanship, the Commission
finalised a significant agreement on Christology in 2014, a lasting legacy which
goes far to heal the wounds of 15 centuries.
Geoffrey’s ecumenical interests went beyond the Oriental Churches to
include the Orthodox, the Lutheran Churches in the Porvoo Communion and
of course the Roman Catholic Church. He had a particularly warm relationship
with Pope Benedict, whom he knew from his time when as Cardinal Ratzinger
he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Together
they once affirmed in conversation that Anglican and Roman Catholics needed
each other for the work of evangelisation and mission in today’s world. He
thrived on such opportunities to engage theologically with other great
thinkers. Indeed, he lamented the demise of the Doctrine Commission of the
Church of England, on which he served for many years, for he understood that
the Church needs theologians to meet together to interpret the faith of the
Church through the ages in the light of contemporary challenges.
Bishop Geoffrey was a collector par excel ence, of art, icons, books, exper-
iences, and, of course hats! He was a jovial raconteur who enlivened many great
dinners as well as more intimate meals with friends. He was a natural teacher
with an encyclopaedic memory. He never forgot a face, a conversation or an
encounter. He seemed to remember a line from any hymn he had ever sung,
and would surprise his hearers with sharp and germane references to the
Church Fathers in particular.
As a historian he was aware of the wisdom of taking a long view of
things. I recall at one meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to
discuss some matter of mutual interest in the Diocese in Europe, the FCO of-
ficials were not entirely up to speed on the nature of this unique jurisdiction and
asked Bishop Geoffrey if he could give some brief history, “to set things in con-
text”. This was Geoffrey’s cue and he replied with enthusiasm, “well let me take
you back to the Edict of Constantine in 313…” I don’t think that our good ser-
vants of Her Majesty’s Government were expecting quite such a perspective!
When encouraging vocations to the priesthood he would love to set out
challenging reading lists for individuals, always keen to expand their knowledge
of God, the faith, the spiritual life and the human condition. Along with the
late Bishop Kenneth Stevenson and Bishop Rowan Williams he compiled and
edited what is a definitive anthology of writing from Anglican divines, poets
and spiritual teachers, entitled Love’s Redeeming Work; The Anglican Quest for
Holiness. It is surely as close to an Anglican Philokalia as can be found and its

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