ONE of the longest-serving priests in the Worcester diocese has died at the age of 96.

Paying tribute to the Rev James Healey Oldroyd, Sister Joan Hudspeth, who knew him for most of his working life, said: "Jim was above all a person who cared and who shared his caring in many different ways - as pastor, friend, helper, guide and perhaps most importantly of all as a listener.

"He always had time to listen and to encourage.

"He was known as a person who regularly wore his shoes out getting among people.

"He cared for them and, in return, they had a special place in their hearts for him."

Mr Oldroyd began working for the church as an officer in the Church Army.

During the Second World War, as a Church Army captain, he provided a chaplaincy service to troops serving in Holland, France and Germany.

He was ordained as a priest in 1955 after training on the Worcester Ordination College course. He then served a curacy at Kidderminster St Mary with All Saints Trimpley and then a second curacy at Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove.

He became vicar of St Mark's, in Bath Road, Cherry Orchard, Worcester, in 1961 and served there until retiring in 1975.

Mr Oldroyd was chairman of Probus, the club for retired professionals from 1987 to 1988, a voluntary chaplain at Worcester Cathedral and served on the Diocesan Board of Finance.

He is remembered as a parish priest who cared for those who called upon him.

Mr Oldroyd's funeral will take place on Monday, April 18, at 11.30am at St Mark's Church.

Mr Oldroyd, who died on Saturday, April 2, will be buried at Whittington Church.

He is survived by his wife Eileen, whom he married in 1949, and his two children, Paul and Simon, and three grandchildren.