A MEMORIAL service is to be held at Chester Cathedral for Canon Stephen Marriott, who died after a short illness on February 8, aged 64.

Stephen’s funeral was held on Thursday, February 17 at Worthenbury Church in North Wales.

As diocesan secretary of Chester Cathedral from 1997 to 2006, he oversaw the move of the diocesan offices in Raymond Street, Chester, to Lower Lane, Aldford.

He was also a lay canon of the cathedral and lived in Worthenbury, near Wrexham.

A Cambridge-trained physicist, Stephen worked as director of the British Standards Institution in London and later as secretary general of the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation, based in Brussels.

He is survived by his wife Lindy and their sons Christopher and Matthew. He and Lindy were active members of the Grosvenor Chapel in London’s Mayfair before they came to live in Wales.

The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster, said: “Stephen Marriott was a splendid diocesan secretary who brought many skills from his previous experience in government service.

“He also played a full part in the spiritual life of the diocese, and his time as secretary was particularly marked by his presence at the great majority of licensing and induction services.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lindy, Christopher and Matthew.”

Current diocesan secretary George Colville added: “Stephen was diocesan secretary when I came here in 1999 and I worked closely with him for seven years.

“He was a kind, considerate boss and a valued friend. I learned a lot from him over the years and am thankful to God for the support he gave to me.

“The thoughts and prayers of all at Church House are with his family at this time.”

The Dean, the Very Revd Professor Gordon McPhate, said: “Stephen had a keen knowledge and love of the liturgy, properly done.

“As a lay canon of the cathedral, he brought his considerable skills of analysis and precision to membership of the cathedral council, and to the work of revising the cathedral’s constitution and statutes. His contribution to the cathedral community will be long remembered with gratitude.”

The memorial service at Chester Cathedral will be an evensong starting at 4pm on Saturday April 16.