Rev Canon Dr Michael Green
b. 1930 – d. 2019
The distinguished author, evangelist, lecturer and former rector of St Aldate’s Church, Oxford, The Rev Canon Dr Michael Green, died yesterday. An Honorary Fellow of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, Dr Green authored more than fifty books, including When God Breaks In, Jesus for Sceptics and In Touch With God, which was the Archbishop of York’s Advent book for 2017.
Dr Green took up his curacy at Holy Trinity, Eastborne in 1957 and was a lecturer at the London College of Divinity from 1960-69. A long and illustrious academic career followed and, as a member of the Doctrine Commission and Archbishops’ Advisor in evangelism, he was an influential voice, both in the Church of England and further afield.
Serving at St Aldate’s Oxford and later at Holy Trinity, Raleigh in North Carolina, Dr Green spoke of his role as an evangelical cleric “[being] in the trenches, getting my hands and feet wet, proclaiming the gospel and seeing lives change.”
The Rt Revd. Dr Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, said this morning; “Michael was a giant of his generation, known and loved by many around the world and an evangelist to the last. He inspired and encouraged several generations of clergy and bishops – including me. I first heard him preach on my first Sunday as an undergraduate in St. Aldate’s over 40 years ago. Michael’s words then were: “I only have one life and I want to live it all for God” have stayed with me through the years. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Rosemary, and the immediate family at this time.
– 7 February 2019
Other tributes
A selection of other tributes published today:
- Statement from Archbishop of Canterbury
- The Revd Greg Downes – Wycliffe Hall
- Philip Law – SPCK
- Matthew Fearon – Premier Christianity
- UCCF: The Christian Unions
- Christians in Sport
- J. John
- Michael Otts
Posts held by Revd Dr Michael Green
Curate | Holy Trinity, Eastbourne | 1957-60 |
Lecturer | London College of Divinity | 1960-69 |
Principal | St John’s College, Nottingham | 1969-75 |
Canon Theologian | Coventry | 1970-75 |
Member of Doctrine Commission | 1968-77 | |
Rector | St Aldate’s Oxford | 1975-87 |
Professor of Evangelism | Regent College, Vancouver | 1987-92 |
Archbishops’ Advisor on Evangelism | 1992-96 | |
Honorary Fellow | Wycliffe Hall | 1996- |
Rector | Holy Trinity, Raleigh in New Carolina | 2005-07 |