"It was my privilege over many years to know Lord Runcie well, to be in his company often and to travel with him to various parts of the Anglican Communion. Few doubted that his popularity across the Anglican world was due to his ability to identify easily with local issues. He was particularly at home with his fellow Primates and enjoyed their full support. He had to face serious social issues at home such as the miners' strike and the implications of the Falklands war, growing questions about the validity of an 'established Church' and moral dilemmas throughout society.

"In the Anglican Communion I came to see the strength of his character as he tackled the possible splits over the ordination of women and the nature of authority in Anglicanism. When he appointed me Chairman of his Commission on women's ordination I spent a lot of time consulting throughout the Communion with him and came to appreciate his intellectual gifts, his humour, and his remarkable memory for names and faces.

"While many felt that he should have been more decisive at times those of us who knew him well and worked most closely with him saw at first hand a dedicated and faithful servant of God who had the great ability to listen and speak to people of every background.

"He visited Northern Ireland on several occasions and stayed at my home. During the hostage crisis in Lebanon there was great cooperation between Armagh and Lambeth Palace as we sought the release of Brian Keenan and Terry Waite. His wife has visited Northern Ireland frequently when as an accomplished pianist she has supported various charities."