It is with great sadness that the death of the Rev’d Canon Leonard Childs, parish priest of St Mark’s Church, Derby, is announced this morning.

Canon Childs (60) is believed to have died in his sleep on Saturday night, though the actual cause of his death is not yet known. He did not arrive to take his usual Church services on Sunday morning and, when his dog was heard barking from his home at St Mark’s Vicarage in Francis Street, the emergency services were called.

As well as being a faithful parish priest, Leonard was most well-known and admired for his tireless work for Derby Cathedral making a vast and splendid array of clergy vestments. He devoted a lifetime to this skilful artistry of national renown.

Following a fire at the Cathedral earlier this month, valuable and unique vestments made by Leonard over many years were tragically lost, yet despite this disaster, he set about painstakingly rebuilding the collection without fuss.

The Ven. Ian Gatford, Archdeacon of Derby, said: “Leonard was well-loved in the parish of St Mark’s and had been involved in community projects in the city of Derby. He was Chairman of the Derwent Community Project and was also involved in the pre-school children's charity Stepping Stones. He was born and bred in Derby and spent his whole life in this Diocese. He leaves a huge gap in the life of his parish, the Cathedral and the city of Derby. Our prayers are with his family, friends and the congregation at St Mark’s."

The Rt Rev’d Jonathan Bailey, Bishop of Derby, said: “As a parish priest Leonard's work was his life. He was such a special person who brought wonderful skills and gifts to the work of the Cathedral too. It was a place he loved - both the building and its people. When he heard of the fire, it was obviously a huge bereavement for him, but he was so brilliant about it all and swiftly got on with developing new vestment designs and buying new materials. Year by year all his fellow clergy in Derby Diocese depended on Leonard as a key player during their annual conference at The Hayes, Swanwick. This talented man of gentle character will be deeply missed.”

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For further information, please contact:
Ruth Green, Communications Officer, CofE Diocese of Derby: 01332 388680
Melanie Allen, Marketing Officer, Derby Cathedral: 01332 341201

Update 19/2/03

The funeral of the Rev'd Canon Leonard Childs, Vicar of St Mark's, Derby, will be at Derby Cathedral on Wednesday, 25th February at 2.00pm. A Requiem Mass will also be held prior to the funeral at St Mark's, Chaddesden, on Tuesday 24th February at 7.30pm.

Canon Childs died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, 15th February 2004 as a result of heart disease.

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