The Rev Kit Widdows, who served at St Hilda's Church for 15 years in the 80s and 90s, collapsed while giving a speech on God and humanity at a Newcastle church.

He told his audience he needed a seat before slumping to the floor.
He never regained consciousness and died in an ambulance on the way to hospital. He had suffered heart trouble.

Today his wife Gillian paid tribute to one of Halifax's best-known and most-loved churchmen.

She said: "We are just in shock. It was so sudden but we're slowly having to come to terms with it.

"He was so well loved. I remember when we left Halifax there were so many tributes and messages of goodwill, it was really heartwarming. He touched so many lives."

Bradford-born Mr Widdows, who studied theology at Cambridge University before moving to Halifax, took an active interest in the community.

As well as being chairman of Calderdale Social Democrat party, he was vice-chairman of the governors at Crossley Heath School and chairman at Warley Road Primary.

He was instrumental in the formation of Calderale Churches Partnership.

Such was his popularity, before he left the area to take up a post in Newcastle, the then Mayor of Calderdale held a reception for him at the town hall.

He leaves behind daughter Heather, son Dominic and grandchildren Clara and Elinor Rose.

The funeral will be on Tuesday at the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle.