On July 7th, the Revd Dr William Taylor, Chairman of the Anglican & Eastern Churches Association, died peacefully in hospital. As the devoted Vicar of St John’s, Notting Hill, he also ensured it fulfilled a wider mission as a centre for East-West encounter and support to Eastern Christian in their hours of need; he adorned its walls with the beauty of Christian art and iconography and its worship with the fine music and dignified liturgy that those of other traditions are grateful to be able to value and admire as an Anglican contribution to the exchange of spiritual gifts and riches among us all.
Canon Taylor was a tireless supporter of the Eastern Churches, particularly those of the Oriental Orthodox and corresponding Catholic traditions, especially in their shared plight in recent years. He was no less engaged with the Orthodox churches, serving as a key adviser on Church of England-Eastern ecumenism in the Diocese of London to successive Bishops of Kensington and London, and Archbishops of Canterbury. He believed passionately in ecumenical friendship and promoted Christian unity not only as a good in itself, but essential to the work of proclaiming the Gospel before the world, and giving that “convincing account of the hope the lies within us” ( Peter 3.15) that is vital “so that the world may believe” (John 17.21).
He was highly regarded and trusted – and a much appreciated friend of the Kensington Carmelite community with its own long tradition of ecumenical hospitality towards Eastern Christian visitors and relations. Furthermore, under Canon Taylor’s leadership, AECA (founded in 1864 to advance a distinctly Anglican focus on efforts to support, learn from and build solidarity and reconciliation with the Eastern Churches) has been a valued friend of the Society of St John Chrysostom, with its parallel objectives within the Catholic Church community.
This important bond of charity and friendship was fostered by Fr John Salter, who was Canon Taylor’s predecessor as Chairman of AECA prior to his reception into the Melkite Greek Catholic Church upon retirement from the Anglican priestly ministry. He himself died on July 8th, the day after Canon Taylor. Fr John remained warmly in touch with colleagues and friends in AECA, especially through its important pilgrimage work to visit the Eastern Churches in their homelands. [A substantial appreciation of Fr John’s life precedes this post.]
With the passing of Canon Taylor and Archpriest John, two considerable men who have given their lives and priestly ministry to advance the work of Christian Unity have been called home to the Father. BOth have left invaluable and enduring achievements on which we have all been able to rely and build for many years. To our friends in the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association and to Canon Taylor’s family and parishioners who miss him greatly, we at the Society of St John Chrysostom extend our heartfelt sympathy, and we pray deeply that his dwelling now may be where all the saints abide. May his memory be eternal.
We gratefully acknowledge the use of the photograph of Fr William’s memorial at St John’s church, Notting Hill, which is (c) AECA 2026