It is with deep sadness that news reached us of the death of the Right Reverend Michael Edgar Adie CBE, Bishop of Guildford from 1983-1994.
Family and friends will gather at a special service to remember a well-loved Bishop, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather.
The Right Reverend Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford, said: "Some of you will have heard of the recent death of Michael Adie, one of my predecessors as Bishop of Guildford. Bishop Michael’s ministry took him all around the country, from Sunderland to Canterbury, Sheffield to Lincoln, before serving as Bishop of Guildford from 1983 to 1994.
“In a month in which we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ordination of the first women priests, we remember Michael’s particular role in helping steer that legislation through General Synod, arguing that ‘the ordination of women is a reasoned development, consonant with Scripture, required by tradition’. His services as chairman of the Church of England Board of Education were also widely recognised, not least with the award of a CBE; and he continued to be active in retirement, first in Hampshire, then in Scotland, before moving to be closer to his family in Guildford Diocese. That gave me the opportunity to meet him on several occasions – generally at the end of Cathedral services – where his kindness and generosity shone through, despite ever-increasing frailty. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. ".
Michael was born on 22nd November 1929 in Romford, Essex, the son of Walter Granville Adie and Kate Emily Adie (née Parrish), and educated at Westminster School and St John's College, Oxford.
He was an attendant at Queen Elizabeth's wedding (then Princess Elizabeth) in Westminster Abbey in November 1947.
He was ordained in 1955 and after a curacy at St Luke, Pallion, Sunderland he became Resident Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, ‘Grandpa’ Fisher, as he was known to the family.
He then became Vicar of St Mark’s, Sheffield, Rural Dean of Hallam, Rector of Louth and Archdeacon of Lincoln before being elevated to the episcopate.
He was married at Lambeth Palace in 1957 to Anne Devonald Roynon, who sadly died in 2013. They had three daughters and one son, 11 grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.
Following his retirement, he and Anne lived in Froxfield until Anne's death in 2013, where she was laid to rest.
Michael then moved to Ballater in Scotland. He was there when the late Queen died, and was one of the community who met the future King and Queen when they met residents of Ballater following Queen Elizabeth's death.
In 2022 he moved to Walton-on-Thames. Michael died peacefully on 4th March at the age of 94, after a short illness.
His funeral service will be at Guildford Cathedral at 11.30am on Monday 25th March 2024, led by Bishop Christopher Herbert (who was his Archdeacon). The family has asked for no flowers, please. But would welcome donations to RNLI, RNIB or Rowans Hospice.
You can also watch the funeral through a livestream.
The family will attend a private burial later in the day at Froxfield, where Michael will be laid to rest with Anne.