TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving reverend who was instrumental in the development of the Ecumenical Centre in Redditch.

Reverend Francis Godfrey died on February 4, aged 95-years-old.

The father-of-three had a long career as a minister, arriving with his family in Redditch in 1975.

Reverend Godfrey’s daughter Ruth Smith, said her father wanted to make a difference by bringing people together in Redditch, inspired by his earlier experience as a minister in Crawley, another new town.

Ruth said: “When he moved to Crawley it was a developing new town, he enjoyed building new churches which is why he wanted to move to Redditch.

“There will be a lot of people in Redditch who will remember him, we’ve had so many cards and messages.”

During his nine years in Redditch, Rev Godfey was a driving force that brought together the Methodist churches and United Reformed Churches to form the Ecumenical Centre which is still going strong today.

Redditch Advertiser: Reverend Frank Godfrey has passed away aged 95-years-old.Reverend Frank Godfrey has passed away aged 95-years-old.

Born in Middlesbrough, Reverend Godfrey became a local preacher after leaving school.

He won a scholarship to the University College of Hull where he met Wendy Ramm who became his wife of more than 60 years, and they went to have raise three children, Christopher, Ruth and Robin.

He was ordained in 1956 and served in Burton Upon Trent, Nottingham and Crawley before heading to Redditch in 1975.

The family then moved to Eastbourne where they spent the next seven years, before retiring to Gloucester.

Paying tribute to her father, Ruth said: “Everyone thinks their dad is the best but he was the best dad in the world.

“They made a big difference to people’s lives, he just loved people.”

His funeral takes place at Christchurch in Abbeydale, Gloucester at 2pm on March 2 and all are welcome to attend.