Speaking today (12th July 2000) on hearing of Lord Runcie's death, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd. Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, offers his sympathy and condolences to Lady Runcie and her family. Bishop Michael know Lord Runcie well, having been Assistant to the Archbishop from 1986-1989.

"Robert Runcie was Archbishop of Canterbury at a time of great change for the Church of England," said Bishop Michael. "It was a time when the Church was the effective Opposition in the land on many issues, particularly of poverty and of peace. While the Archbishop was very much an Establishment figure, he was not afraid to take on the Establishment!

"As a person, he was a gentleman of the old school and a very careful preparer of things, taking immense care to craft his speeches and taking advice from many people. I learned a very great deal from him about being careful in preparation.

"When I was a bishop in Pakistan and not so popular with the government there, he asked me to work for him as a way of getting me out of a very difficult situation. He was a very easy man to get on with - a man of humour.

"One major impact on him was the taking of Terry Waite and during that time I saw him a great deal and he was under tremendous pressure.

"I think he is underrated, perhaps because he did not write very much, but he will be remembered as a man of immense learning, which he wore very lightly, and as someone who led the Anglican Church in a refined and carefully thought-out way, with a great awareness of the world-wide Church."