John Stott (1921-2011)

When I was young, and just learning the skills of barcodology, I was a frequent visitor to three London places of worship. Just two of them need bother us here. One of them was All Souls Langham Place, where Richard Bewes and Kim Swithinbank continued the great work that John Stott had established.

The other was the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, at St Peter's, Vere St. Where on many a Wednesday lunchtime I was privileged to hear the words of an articulate, devout, intelligent, rational evangelical Christian. Five adjectives that go together less frequently with the noun "Christian" than they should. A man who proved that Christianity was not insane, nor unreasonable. And that Christians could live good, holy, dedicated lives without being total wombats.

God bless you, John Stott. And we'll see you again one day, in the presence of the merciful, rational, loving Jesus you followed.