Anglican Communion News Service

by Siphiwe Sithole
Intern, Anglican Communion Communications, London

The death of two Bishops, the Most Reverend Vinod A.R Peter , President of the National Council of Churches in India and Moderator of the Church of North India and the the Rt Reverend Gerald Andrews, Bishop of Rajasthan, who died in a car crash on December 6 near Jodhpur, has sent shock waves throughout the Anglican Communion. Born of March 3, 1939 at Bhadrawati, district Chandrapur, Maharashtra State in India, Bishop Peter had his ealier education in Maharashtra, graduated from Hislop College, Nagpur, and was trained for the sacred ministry at Bishop's College, Calcuta1964-67.

Bishop Peter was the President of Leprosy Mission of India and the Chairman of the ISPCK. He was a dynamic young leader and took part in the Student Christian Movenent. A pastor at heart Bishop Peter dedicated his life in championing the cause of the poorest of the poor. Since his ordination in 1967 he served in several pastorates in Nagpur and Bombay and was consecrated Bishop and appointed to the Diocese of Nagpur on December 16, 1984 and on October 12, 1998 he was elected Moderator of the Church of North India. And has made a tremendous contribution to the life of the Churches in India and abroad particularly in the Lambeth Conference in 1998.

He leaves behing his mother, wife Racheal, son Harshvardhan, daughter in law Arupa and a grandson and brothers and a sister. His untimely and tragic death is a great loss to the Churches in in India.

The funeral service for Bishop Peter will be held at 11 am. At Cathedral House, Nagpur, on December 8, 2000 followed by a burial at Jripatka cemetery, Nagpur.

Bishop Gerald Andrews was born on August 2, 1940. He was ordained as a Priest on March 10, 1968 and consecrated Bishop on August 22,1993. He was appointed Bishop of Eastern Himalaya Diocese of the Church of North India where he served untill 1999. In November 1999 he was appinted Bishop of Diocese of Rajasthan.

He leaves behind his wife Indira and two daughters Amelia ansd Enid and a host of relatives.