Canon David Banting and Mrs Catherine Banting write:

THE Revd Keith Aitken Astley Weston, who died on 5 February, aged 86, was an international Bible expositor, who will be remembered for his pivotal 21 years as Rector of St Ebbe's, Oxford, in a long and influential ministry lasting very nearly 60 years.

Keith came to a personal faith while at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood. His undying love and commitment was to preach Christ and the gospel of grace. He was warmly at ease with all ages, children, students, parishioners, and, through the Keswick Convention, with people of many nationalities, all of whom valued his careful and lively Bible teaching.

His ministry was far-reaching and distinguished: assistant curate in Weston-super-Mare and Cheltenham, incumbent in Clevedon (1959-64) and Norwich (1985-1991); trustee of the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, and chairman in its diamond-jubilee year of 1988; on the council of the Keswick Convention, and its chairman (1994-97); Rural Dean of Oxford (1971-76); member of the General Synod for ten years, and one of its panel of chairs in the 1980s; and Director of Ordinands and Post-Ordination Training for Norwich diocese 1985-91 (under his old friend Bishop Maurice Wood). But it was St Ebbe's that was the focus of his influence.

Bishop Tom Wright was nurtured as a student and OICCU president by Keith, who trusted him, while still an ordinand at Wycliffe Hall, to take a parish weekend. Bishop Keith Sinclair was a lay assistant with Keith for a year after graduation, and remembers learning much around the legendary kitchen table at the Rectory.

At a thanksgiving service on 22 February in Thame Parish Church, Dr Wright preached on Romans 8 at Keith's request; Bishop Sinclair testified to his early grounding in faith and ministry under Keith's leadership; and the Bishop of Dorchester, Colin Fletcher, a student at St Ebbe's in the Weston days, led the prayers.

Bob Key, former director of CPAS, and now Dean of Jersey, spoke for the succession of curates whom Keith trained. He described Keith as "one of the greatest Bible expositors of his generation, generously sharing insights and opportunities with his trainees".

The veteran evangelist Michael Green, former Vicar of St Aldate's, Oxford, ran joint courses with Keith for the numerous potential ordinands from their churches at opposite ends of Pembroke Street. He recalls Keith as "a towering figure in Oxford life". Philip Hacking, a fellow-member of the Keswick Council, acknowledged that Keith embraced interdenominational evangelicalism very happily, but brought "his own distinctive Anglican flavour to it".

Canon Keith Weston embodied Evangelical Anglicanism at its best. He believed that "unvarnished Anglicanism is Evangelical Anglicanism"; but there was no partisanship in that quiet conviction.

He was deeply committed to the Church of England, as a pastor-teacher of the highest order. He loved his parish and his people, and was at pains not to miss a Sunday at his beloved St Ebbe's. The scriptures were authoritative and central, and the liturgy was honoured, not for its own sake but as the vehicle for public worship that was reverent and real. His pastoral letters were meticulous and memorable for their care, and his flowing handwriting.

Keith married Margaret Reed in 1954, and together they forged an extraordinary partnership in love, hospitality, and ministry. It was always Keith-and-Margaret, and everyone remembers the good fellowship and counsel round that kitchen table. Their home and family life, with four children, gave ample scope for his impish sense of humour, and his love of music, sport, and the outdoors. Margaret survives him.

He was last seen by many of his Oxford friends in October 2012, at the installation of his son-in-law as executive leader of the Church Mission Society.

Humble to the end, Keith left instructions for any thanksgiving service to be "less of Keith, more of Christ".