Richard Bewes, former rector of All Souls, dies aged 84

Rev Richard Bewes OBE, the former rector of All Souls church Langham Place in London, has died aged 84.

Richard Bewes was an influential Christian leader in the UK throughout his life. He was the rector of All Souls from 1983 until his retirement in 2004. Rev Bewes also served on the Church of England Evangelical Council in the 1990s and was on the British Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for much of his life.

Church leaders have paid tribute to his life and ministry. Mike Reeves, Principal of Union School of Theology tweeted:“Richard Bewes – kind friend, humble mentor, faithful soldier of Christ – is today crowned with glory by his saviour”. 

Born and raised by missionary parents in Kenya, Richard Bewes made a confession of faith as a teenager, partly under the influence of church minister John Stott, who would continue to be a mentor to him during his undergraduate years and as one of his predecessors at All Souls. 

After studying at Cambridge University, Bewes trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was ordained to ministry in the Church of England in 1959. 

Rev Bewes continued to be passionate about Africa and was involved in raising up and training church leaders there through Africa Enterprise. His ministry also took him to various other parts of the world…