Evangelical church leader and author Reverend Melvin Tinker has died aged 66, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The conservative Anglican minister who served 26 year of ministry at St John’s church, Newland passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Rev Tinker helped found REFORM – a conservative C of E churches group committed to the reform of “ourselves, our congregation and our world by the gospel”.

He later retired from the Church of England in August 2020 believing it had “gone adrift from its biblical moorings.”

A network of independent Anglican churches, entitled ‘Christ Church Network’ Hull, was then formed out of the St John’s congregations.

The Christ Church Network gave Premier this statement: “We praise God for Melvin’s faithful and unwavering ministry in Hull and beyond, as he held up the Gospel through his teaching, preaching, pastoring, and writing. He had such a great impact on so many people and we thank God for this rich and wonderful legacy. Praise God for the victorious work of Christ, on behalf of his people, that means our hope is certain and eternal.”

Speaking to Premier, close friend and former chaplain to the Queen, Gavin Ashenden named Tinker as “one of the most outstanding evangelical clergy of his generation” and one “who radiated a quality of joy and a singular kind of clarity that reflects the presence of the Holy Spirit”.

He said: “He risked professional ostracism because he placed his allegiance to Jesus before patronage and advancement within the system. Under his ministry his congregation grew energetically. 

“He showed the Church of England how pastoral ministry, intelligent faithful biblical preaching could open peoples’ hearts and carry they into the arms of Jesus.”

“Those who knew him and the risen Christ, and read their bibles loved and admired him greatly. Truly a man without guile.”

Details of a service of thanksgiving from the Christ Church Network will be released in due course.