The Revd Canon Ivan Bailey has died aged 91, with his funeral to be held on Monday 11 August at St Andrew’s Church, Eaton.
Born in Diss, Ivan’s training took place at Keeble College and St Stephen’s House in Oxford. He was ordained in 1960 and completed his curacy in Ipswich.
Much of Revd Canon Bailey’s ministry was based here in Norfolk, including as Vicar of Cringleford between 1966 and 1981, in which time he also became Rural Dean for Humbleyard in 1973.
Other positions held within our Diocese have included as Rector in Colney and Priest-in-Charge of Kirby Bedon w Bixley and Whitlingham, in addition to a range of chaplaincy roles.
The 1980s saw Revd Bailey become an Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral, along with the beginning of a new adventure in the world of television and radio.
During this time, he worked alongside the likes of Terry Wogan, Roy Castle and Nicholas Parsons on national programming, while in the local area he was a regular contributor to both Anglia Television and BBC Radio Norfolk.
Despite Ivan’s ministry in Cringleford having ended more than four decades ago, his influence remains felt to this day in the community. Reflecting on this legacy, Revd Graham Wilkins, the current Rector of Cringleford and Colney, said:
“Ivan had a fondly remembered ministry at St.Peter’s Cringleford, where people still speak warmly of his time in the parish. He is remembered for how welcoming he was to all and his real sense of fun.
“It is amazing that he is also remembered by people who are not of the church congregation but the wider Cringleford community.
“Ivan displayed all the qualities you would want of a priest rooted in his community including a welcoming manner and a deep love for his parishioners.
“When I first moved to the role Ivan wrote to me to say he was praying for me and that he hoped I had as much fun as he had had here – he obviously never stopped caring for or praying for those people and places he had had a connection with.”
The funeral of Revd Canon Ivan Bailey will be held at 2pm on Monday 11 August 2025 at St Andrew’s Church in Eaton.