The Revd Tony Crowe writes:

CANON Christopher Byers, who died on 1 March, aged 79, was born in Streatham, in Southwark diocese, where he was destined to provide 40 years of ministry in three parishes. After National Service, when he was a Second Lieutenant, seconded to the King's African Rifles in Malawi, he read theology at Jesus College, Oxford, before training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall.

Chris served his first and only curacy for five years in Bermondsey, and described this experience in an article for Prism. Bermondsey was a good training ground, under the guidance of the Revd Bill Skelton, who was very efficient in record-keeping. Chris read the galley-proof of Bishop John Robinson's Honest to God. Those were the exciting days of "South Bank Religion", when the church was at the heart of the community - a vision that Chris took to St Andrew's Mottingham, from 1966 to 1986.

In Mottingham, he started a Festival Week, where he was seen dressed up as a devil. Visiting schools became a priority in his ministry. The borough of Greenwich was twinned with Reinickendorf in West Berlin, which the choir visited, giving seven concerts in 14 days. In exchange, the Lutherans sent over their confirmation class.

During the miners' strike, we visited Easington - another Greenwich link, to express our solidarity with the miners.

As Rector of Thamesmead from 1986 to 2000, Chris joined an ecumenical team, with a vision of building up a Christian community. A building was shared with the Roman Catholics. Canon John O'Toole, who is now Dean of St George's Cathedral, Southwark, writes that "despite having different views on many things, our friendship transcended the theological differences, and we respected each other's views."

Chris inaugurated a multiracial festival, and continued his assiduous visiting of schools. John Austin, the former MP, says that if there was a community event, Chris was always there.

For 40 years, Chris played for Southwark in the Church Times Cricket Cup, as a fine medium-fast swing bowler. With an upright action, he bowled a nagging length with some accuracy.

In retirement in Whitstable, he was president of the Kent Supporters Club, and was co-opted to the General Committee from 2008. In Canterbury Week, he started a memorial service for those who had died in the two world wars. After his death, the flag was flown at half-mast over the Frank Woolley Stand.

In 1969, he found it difficult to accept that Skelton was gay, when his former Rector had a nervous breakdown, refusing the offer of the bishopric of Liverpool. In a lively debate in Southwark Cathedral about the ordination of women, some of the clergy alluded to their feminine side. Chris leapt to his feet, and proclaimed that he was 100 per cent heterosexual.

His father, Cyril, lived to the age of 99. Chris described him as his best friend. At the St Lawrence Cricket Ground, I remember Cyril sitting between Laura, Chris's first wife, by whom he had two sons, and Estelle, whom he married in 1988, inheriting a stepdaughter and son. Chris was very honest about his divorce, and was devoted to his seven grandchildren.

He was also honest about his doubts: he was searching for the truth, and was always asking questions, whether in a Sea of Faith pub meeting, or during Holy Week in Canterbury Cathedral, when he challenged Archbishop Williams about the relevance of the Church to modern society.

Chris's preaching was appreciated in the Whitstable churches, but especially in Oare. He soon became involved in local organisations: Probus, the Whitstable Society, and the Whitstable Trust. He loved the sea, and bird- watching. Painting was another passion.

At his funeral service, he had a cricket ball in his right hand. We left the crematorium to the music from Test Match Special. In May, there will be a celebration of Chris's life at the St Lawrence Cricket Ground.