The Revd Canon Geoffrey Johnston sadly died last weekend. Here Bishop David Hamid, who knew him well, reflects on his life and ministry. 

'Fr Geoff, as he liked to be known, had an extraordinarily diverse ministry as a priest, spanning more than 55 years, and encompassing a variety of roles in England and in Europe, from early days in the dioceses of Lichfield and Truro, to Industrial Mission work in Worcester and Mediterranean Mission activity in Spain. He had been a parish priest, an ecumenical officer, a lecturer, an Area Dean, an Assistant Director of Ordinands, and the acting Archdeacon of the largest Archdeaconry in the Diocese in Europe, Gibraltar. As Archdeacon, his jurisdiction extended across Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Morocco, and even temporarily included Italy and Malta when that Archdeaconry itself became vacant for a while. Geoff had boundless energy and devoted time and attention to getting to know the congregations under his supervision, which involved a rigorous travel schedule. His approach to his Area Dean and subsequent Archidiaconal roles was marked by both wisdom and wit, particularly evident in his diplomatic handling of diocesan challenges alongside his colleagues. 
Trained at Kelham College under the Society of the Sacred Mission, Fr Geoff’s was well grounded in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. This was never a rigid traditionalism, however. He championed a fully inclusive ordained ministry and was unswerving in his support of ordained women and was a strong advocate for the fullest participation of LGBT persons in the life of the Church. His was a priesthood which he believed needed always to be serving God’s justice and building God’s kingdom. 

Among his many gifts to us in this diocese was his strong links and friendship with USPG. He was our earliest advocate of for the deployment of specially trained interim ministers, and his commitment to a full orientation for clergy coming into this diocese from outside the Church of England. He served as a mentor to many ordinands and trainee Readers. A little-known aspect of Geoff’s international outlook was his work with German church partners during the period after reunification and integration into the EU. He was a committed European citizen, and lamented the Brexit outcome, and devoted much energy to supporting Anglican communities in Southern Europe during the unsettling post-Brexit period.

Geoff was a natural ecumenist. He had long connections with Taizé and fostered the warmest of relations with Roman Catholic clergy and people in Nerja and Almuñécar where he was chaplain, and across the archdeaconries he served.  

In addition to his own ministry, he was always alongside his beloved wife Carol in her work as diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union, and supportive of her role in growing that movement within our diocese. 

In all these roles Geoff touched countless lives over these 55 years of priestly service. He maintained a sense of humour about church life, and a profound love for the Church of England, even when she frustrated him at times! I count myself deeply blessed to have worked closely with him, to have learned from him, to have laughed and cried with him, and to have known him as a friend.'

Please continue to join our prayers for his wife Carol, his children Christopher and Rebecca and all those who loved him.