Christian Institute founder John Burns dies

Nicola Laver, Christian Institute  |  People
Date posted:  20 Nov 2024
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Christian Institute founder John Burns dies

photo: Christian Institute

Christian Institute (CI) founder John Burn has died aged 86 following a long illness. His death on 25 October comes eight months after the sudden death of CI director Colin Hart in March.

Originally a science teacher, John’s work in improving standards in schools brought him an OBE for services to education. While a lay reader in the Diocese of Newcastle at Jesmond Parish Church, John was invited to be a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas.

Speaking into the public square

In the late 1980s, he hosted an education conference for Christians where he met Colin, who was beginning his teaching career in Gosforth. They felt too few Christians were speaking out faithfully in the public square, and with John’s encouragement, Colin left teaching to set up The Christian Institute. John became chairman and Colin was the director.

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