A VICAR who oversaw a time of change and development at St Cuthbert’s Church during the 1970s has died aged 83.

The Very Rev John Treadgold was vicar at St Cuthbert’s between 1974 and 1981.

He oversaw a number of changes to the layout of the church including re-positioning the altar which involved removing three rows of pews either side of the nave and putting the choir stalls in their place; the pulpit was repositioned and the paved area extended to accommodate a new altar and rails.

Rev Treadgold helped fundraise for the church and a Flower Festival held in 1978 raised enough money for eight new clear windows in the transepts.

The following year a legacy enabled the church to install new lighting and an amplification system and new boilers were also installed during this time.

However, the biggest single change in the life of St Cuthbert’s in Rev Treadgold’s time was the building of the Church Centre.

When the building was completed a grand opening was planned for October 1977, with HRH the Duchess of Kent to officiate.

Unfortunately the Duchess was taken ill and her visit cancelled, meaning that to this day the building has never been officially opened.

In 1981 Rev Treadgold was appointed a Canon Residentiary at St George’s Chapel Windsor and Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.

In 1989 he became Dean of Chichester Cathedral, a post he held until his retirement in 2001.

He died peacefully on Sunday (February 15) aged 83.