The comedian Ken Dodd, one of the great entertainers of the music hall era who toured the country with his lively, notoriously over-running act has died at the age of 90.
Dodd was a long supporter of the Book of Common prayer, the Anglican book with daily gospel readings and prayers, describing it when he was 89 as "a wonderful piece of literature, beautifully-written and based on fact."
He became acquainted with the book as a choir boy where he would sing the words.
Prudence Dailey, the Chair of the Prayer Book Society told Premier: "He clearly thought deeply about the words of the prayer book as well as the music and it's something that clearly meant a lot to him."
She explained what his faith was like: "There he was, 90 years old and still going to the same parish church where he's been singing since a little boy and all worshiping and praying"
Dailey continued to describe how he gave people joy: "One of my colleagues who did speak to him said that he was clearly the same fun loving man in real life as came across on the stage and that kind of joy and happiness is something all Christians should seek to give the world."
Justin Welby has also paid tribute to him, writing on twitter: "May he rest in peace and rise in glory."
Will miss Ken Dodd - he attended Liverpool Cathedral faithfully while I was Dean there. Always friendly, always wise, always funny. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) 12 March 2018
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