The Anglican Diocese of Derby has had seven bishops, and all of them have combined a moderate theology with profound humanity and care for people. Some of them were distinguished academics. Jonathan Bailey will be remembered as someone who really cared for people, listened to them, and was at ease in any social context.

Jonathan Sansbury Bailey was born in 1940 in Liverpool where he was raised and was educated at Quarry Bank High School. He spent five years in Cambridge, first at Trinity College and then doing his ordination training at Ridley Hall.

Bailey returned to Liverpool and served a curacy in St Helens. His experience in industry then led him to become an Industrial Missioner in the Diocese of Liverpool. Three years later, he became the Warden of Marrick Priory, a residential youth centre that focused on Christian education and outdoor activities. In 1976 he became a much-loved vicar of Wetherby in Yorkshire. Among his work was a hospital chaplaincy and one to the local borstal were he established an ecumenical chaplaincy. His openness to society was expressed by being chairman of the governors of Wetherby High School and he founded the now well-established Wetherby Arts Festival.

Bailey’s wide expertise and competence made him a very suitable Archdeacon of Southend, a post that he held from 1982-92. He continued his commitment to Industrial Mission as an adviser for industry and commerce. He co-ordinated the work of more than a dozen industrial chaplains and he was chairman of the Diocesan Board of Education. A member of the General Synod from 1988, Bailey served on the Council for the Care of Churches. He also helped to establish an induction course for new Archdeacons.

In 1992 Bailey became the Suffragan Bishop of Dunwich in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. During that time he was chairman of the finance committee of the Church’s Advisory Board of Ministry, dealing with the funding of ordination training.

His stay in Suffolk was brief, and in 1995 he became Bishop of Derby. The diocese, as well as containing rural areas, included considerable industrial activity and a large immigrant community. He made an immediate impact and one part of his programme was to visit pubs and nightclubs in the city centre. He helped to establish the Derby multifaith centre and was a governor of Derby University, which awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Bailey was known as a pastoral and caring bishop who remembered people’s names and mixed with all ages and faiths. On the national scene he was for three years the chairman of the Churches Main Committee, which acts as a liaison group between all the churches and government departments. During his time in Derby, he was also Clerk to the Closet, a role that involves advising the Queen about the appointment of her Honorary Chaplains. For this work he was appointed a KCVO. He was a member of the House of Lords from 1999 to 2005. He retired to Gloucestershire, where he was an assistant bishop and served on the Gloucester Police Authority.

Bailey married Susan Bennett-Jones in 1965. She was ordained in 1994, making him the first diocesan bishop to have a wife who was a priest. She worked in the Derby diocese, both in parishes and as chaplain of the Derby Diocesan Retreat house.

Bailey is survived by his wife and their three sons.

The Right Rev Jonathan Bailey, KCVO, Bishop of Derby, 1995-2005, was born on February 24, 1940. He died of cancer on December 9, 2008, aged 68