The Rt Revd Alastair Redfern and the Very Revd Robert Grimley write:

CANON John Rogan, who died aged 91, on 15 April, was a man of learning, dignity, compassion, and fun. He brought sparkle and insight to important issues within both the Church and society. He had a particular skill in crossing boundaries — helping to foster effective links between Church and world, cathedral and diocese, faith and those of no formal faith. John had a deep compassion and concern for the needs of others, especially the most marginalised, and strived to bring institutions and individuals together to produce more creative and encouraging responses to the challenges they faced, thus enabling them to better flourish.

He was born on 20 May 1928 in north Manchester, of a Roman Catholic father and a Church of England mother. It was in the sixth form of Manchester Central High School that he decided that he was most at home in the Church of England. An accomplished pianist, he read history at Durham University, graduating with both a BA and then a Master’s degree. He later achieved a distinction in his diploma in theology, but his tutor warned him that this did not make him a theologian.

After a short commission in the RAF, he was accepted to read for Orders, and returned to Durham to train for the ministry. It was during this time that he married Margaret, whom he had met while at school, and who had trained as a nurse. He served his title at St Michel and All Angels, Ashton-under-Lyne, and, while he was there, his children, Ruth and Peter, were born.

It was under the influence of Canon Lamont, the Rector of St Michael’s, that he moved to serve his second curacy at Sharrow, in Sheffield, where he became part of the industrial mission team, which Bishop Leslie Hunter and Canon Ted Wickham had by then been pioneering for about ten years. He learned the value of bringing people together in their work posts to discuss issues of current interest and importance, with a view to exploring the value of a Christian attitude to them; this included trade union leaders from the steel works and others involved in the political and cultural life of the city.

In 1961, the family moved to London, where he served as the secretary of what was then the Church of England Industrial Committee. He experienced frustration that relatively few key people in the wider Church shared his sense of urgency about the position of the Church in a rapidly changing society. He did draw support from contacts whom he made there, including Mollie Batten, the Principal of William Temple College, Rugby. It was through her that he met Dale White, the Director of the Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre in Johannesburg; this led to a long association with South Africa both during and after the years of apartheid.

After five years, he become Vicar of Leigh in Manchester diocese, where he worked determinedly to apply the insights and techniques which he had honed in Sheffield. He willingly involved himself in the life of the town, with commitments to schools and colleges, hospital chaplaincy, civic duties, cultural and voluntary groups, on top of the work of the parish, rural dean, and diocesan commitments, in particular the Board of Social Responsibility. In time, he seemed somewhat overwhelmed by it all, but he retained a great affection for Leigh and its people, of whom he spoke fondly until the end of his life; and that was reciprocated.

In 1978, he was appointed Provost of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee, where he brought his commitment to social responsibility to both the city and the Scottish Episcopal Church. Among other things, he established a chaplaincy to British Rail workers in Dundee. At the cathedral, he helped the congregation to understand and value the first experiments in the use of modern language in the liturgy; in the diocese, he led clergy study days, including at least one for which some of those attending were surprised to be asked to bring a Greek New Testament.

In 1983, he was appointed to a Residentiary Canonry of Bristol, as Chancellor of the cathedral, and in the diocese he was responsible for setting up provision for industrial mission and social responsibility. He encountered a significant number of clergy and laity who were not convinced that this was something to which the Church should devote its resources, but by persistence and charm, he gradually won over many of these doubters, including some whose voices carried much weight with their colleagues.

He had never lost his love for history, and, in his duties as cathedral archivist, he researched the complicated story of the 12th-century Augustinian abbey, which became the cathedral at the Reformation. His researches and historical interests fed into publications and lectures, and, with a lightness of touch, into many of his sermons. Chapter colleagues appreciated the way that he brought his historical perspective to bear on contentious issues in the present.

In retirement, he continued to teach in university and other gatherings, and to lead innumerable study tours, which had an unfailingly keen following. He also devoted time to the local work of Age UK Bristol, and BRACE, the charity supporting research into Alzheimer’s disease and their carers, the Child Contact Centre, and other voluntary and community groups.

John was an experienced leader. Yet he knew how to give space to others, to enable a range of contributions, and he lead by example in committing time and energy to explore creative ways forward. He was widely respected and admired. With Margaret, he was generous in hospitality and in pastoral care — for colleagues, members of the cathedral congregation, and a whole host of people looking for support and encouragement.

He always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye, an easy confidence that could absorb tensions in a way which helped to turn conflict into co-operation, and a genuine interest in whomever he met. John’s grace will live in many lives — as a force for goodness, gentleness, wisdom and healthy humour.