After Oxford University and then Clifton Theological College, Bristol, he served curacies at St Ebbe’s in Oxford, and Welling near Bexleyheath. He was vicar of Redland in Bristol 1970–1979 during which time he was part of the lecturing staff at Tyndale Hall and then Trinity College Bristol, where he was Director of Ministry and Mission. He was vicar of Christ Church Beckenham 1979–93, and vicar of Bishop Hannington Hove 1994– 2003 before retirement to Eastbourne.

In addition he was at various times on the council of Reform, and subsequently chair of the trustees; on the Evangelical Alliance council; a director of en; and had roles and responsibilities with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship, London City Mission, UCCF, CPAS, Latimer House, Disabled Christians’ Fellowship, Sussex Ministry Training Course, John Newton Project and Bible by the Beach. He spoke at the Keswick Convention several times, as well as abroad in India, Pakistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Greece and South Africa.

In all of these leadership positions, he was supported by his wife Margaret, and together they were a formidable team, modelling hospitality, evangelism and discipleship, with an earnestness in the gospel, and a love for Christ and His people.

I was a curate in his Hove parish for a few years, where he loved working with a staff team, and showed us all what it meant to work hard, earning respect, admiration and affection. He enjoyed a joke, and did not mind having his leg pulled. One Easter Day evening, I was present to preach at Bishop Hannington Church, but simply could not croak out my sermon for lack of voice. Tony – with no notice – took over from me in the pulpit, and read out my notes with remarkable effectiveness. At the door afterwards, a naughty church member looked Tony in the eye and said: ‘That’s the best sermon I’ve ever heard you preach!’ (And of course, we all knew it wasn’t!).

He loved visiting islands, reading Puritans, seeing Christians grow, and supporting evangelical ministries beyond his own patch. In Brighton he networked far more with independent and Baptist evangelicals than he did with non-evangelical Anglicans. He was a member of the John Buchan Society.

He was one who put 1 Corinthians 16:13 into practice. He died on Christmas Eve 2023 and the email telling me the news said he was ‘Home for Christmas’.