St Pauls Memorial Service For John Stott

A memorial and thanksgiving service will be held today, for the life of the evangelical leader John Stott who died last year.

The service, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, will be an opportunity for Dr Stott’s many friends and admirers to give thanks to God for the life of the man who many consider to be one of the giants of 20th century evangelicalism.

Dr Stott died last year aged 90, from age related illnesses. His death was reported widely, with obituaries appearing in the Daily Telegraph and the New York Times.

American Evangelist Billy Graham said of him: "The evangelical world has lost one of its greatest spokesmen, and I have lost one of my close personal friends and advisors. I look forward to seeing him again when I go to Heaven."

The St Pauls service is the latest in a series of services held around the world, in memory of Dr Stott who is sometimes described as an architect of evangelicalism.

His ministry began with a curacy at All Souls Langham Place, he went on to found the Langham Partnership International in 1974, and in 1982 he founded the influential London Institute for Contemporary Christianity.

He authored numerous books, including ‘Basic Christianity’ and ‘The Radical Disciple’, and spent time as chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen in a long ministry career which saw him invited to speak around the world.

The St Pauls Memorial Service begins at 11.30am, and seating is limited, with only 200 unreserved seats open to members of the public. The service will be presided over by retired Bishop Michael Baughen, former Bishop of Chester, and the preacher will be Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, former president of the Evangelical Alliance.