Late Bishop of Guildford 'inspirational', says archbishop

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has said the late Bishop of Guildford's Christian faith was "inspirational" ahead of his funeral.

The Right Reverend Andrew Watson died on 3 March – less than a month after revealing he had terminal cancer, aged 64.

A funeral is to be held in Guildford Cathedral, in Surrey, on Monday.

Dame Sarah Mullally said: "The funeral will be a time for us to reflect on his life, to respond to our own grief, but also to celebrate all that he was for us."

Mullally, who is the first woman to hold the role of Archbishop of Canterbury, added: "I was very privileged to meet Bishop Andrew on Ash Wednesday. His Christian faith was so inspirational.

"He had a real calm sense of assurance about his death and therefore his resurrection. And for me, that was inspiring."

Prior to his death, Watson requested that donations in his memory be given to support the mission and ministry of Guildford Cathedral.

The Bishop of Dorking, the Right Reverend Paul Davies, said: "Whilst his family mourn the loss of a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, we mourn the loss of a much-loved diocesan bishop – as well as an inspiring fellow disciple, dear brother in Christ, precious friend and special colleague."

Davies assumed interim leadership of the diocese shortly before Watson's death.

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