Tributes have been paid to Canon Bruce Grainger, the popular vicar of St Mary the Virgin Church in Oxenhope for 16 years, who has died aged 82.
A well-known figure in and around Keighley, he began ministry in Crossflatts in the 1960s and returned many times to lead services.
As well as his parish duties Mr Grainger had been active for many decades in specialist posts including 20 years as honorary canon at Bradford Cathedral.
The following comprehensive report on his life and work appeared in Canon Grainger's local weekly paper, the Keighley News which described him as have "roared through life":
"Even after his retirement as Oxenhope vicar in 2004 the devoted family man had a busy calendar serving the Church of England at local and district level.
He is probably best known locally for being the driving force behind the hugely-popular annual Carol Service on the Keighley and Worth Valley Line which he had organised for three decades.
Mr Grainger’s widow Rosemary this week paid tribute to her late husband as a lovely father and a loving husband.
She said: “He knew an awful lot about an awful lot of things because his interests were so widespread.”
Mr Grainger was born in London in 1937 but grew up at Woburn Abbey where he, his mother and sister were evacuated during the Second World War.
He did two years’ medical training before receiving a calling to the ministry, and following National Service with the Royal Signals he read theology at Nottingham University.
He was ordained deacon at Bradford Cathedral in 1964, and curate of all Saints Church in Bingley in 1964.
Becoming curate-in-charge of the satellite church of St Aidan’s, in a wooden hut in Crossflatts, he enlarged the congregation and spearheaded the construction of a new building.
Mr Grainger returned to St Aidan’s in August to preach at the building’s 50th anniversary, the last service he took before his death.
Mrs Grainger said: “It was a lovely service and it meant a tremendous amount to him to return. He always felt the Church should be at the centre of the community.”
Mr Grainger met vicar’s daughter Rosemary while at university, and after Crossflatts the pair moved to Canterbury where he served as chaplain and assistant master at King’s School.
Mr Grainger became vicar of Baildon in 1972, moving to the Oxenhope church in 1988, though he held many other posts within the diocese during those two tenures.
He spent 20 years as honorary canon at Bradford Cathedral, and has also chaired the Diocesan Liturgy Committee, lectured in Bible subjects, been a schools inspector, and been the Diocesan ecumenical Officer.
Mr Grainger had a lifelong association with choral music, either leading or singing in choirs. Since the early 1970s he had sung with the Aire Valley Singers, and more recently also the Ad Hoc Singers and Concordiamici.
Mrs Grainger said: “Music was very important to him. Through his ministry he’s been involved with choirs, and away from work it was his one relaxation.”
Mr Grainger had many other interests including bellringing, gardening, repairing clocks, and chiefly a love for motorcycles, particularly Velocettes which he had owned and maintained since his youth.
Mr Grainger and his wife had three children, musculoskeletal radiologist consultant Andrew, who lives in Cambridge, Worcestershire teacher Clare, and music therapist Katie who lives in Cottingley."