THE Church of England in Lancashire will remember one of its key figures for almost two decades with a service at Blackburn Cathedral next week.

David Galilee’s funeral will be held at the cathedral, where he was responsible for worship and preaching from 1995 to 2004, on Thursday.

The 76-year-old clergyman suffered a heart attack while staying with his daughter Katherine at her home in Stourbridge.

From 1995 until his retirement in 2004, Rev Galilee was the Canon Chancellor at Blackburn Cathedral.

An academic appointment, this gave him responsibility for theological matters and religious reflection.

He was also responsible for the Diocese of Blackburn’s contribution to education.

One of the highlights of his time at the Cathedral was meeting Princess Anne on a Royal visit there in 1999.

Dean of Blackburn Christopher Armstrong, who will take the funeral service, said: “David was a wonderful colleague and great help when I first came to the cathedral. His gifts, especially his intellect, he did not keep to himself but shared them generously and accessibly with all around. “We worked hard together and David’s humour lubricated our joint work.”

Rev Galilee was educated at Durham School and Oriel College, Oxford, before training for the ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge.

He was ordained in 1962, working as a curate in Leicester before spending two years as a tutor at Westcott House.

Rev Galilee then had nine years in the Ely diocese before moving to Adiscombe, near Croydon.

He and his late wife, Isobel, leave a son, James, and two daughters, Katherine and Jane.

Rev Galilee lived in Blackburn after his retirement.

The funeral will take place on Thursday at 2.30pm.

Cathedral Canon Sacrist Andrew Hindley said: “David was a kind and friendly man.

“He possessed a formidable intellect but was always approachable.”