A FORMER Bournemouth vicar who went on to become Bishop of Winchester from 1985 to 1995 has died at the age of 83.

While vicar of St Peter’s, the Rt Rev Colin James led the pastoral reorganisation of church life in the town until 1973 when he became responsible for the northern half of the Winchester diocese before becoming Bishop of Basingstoke.

He was not, however, permitted to live in the new town for the Church Commissioners had decreed that the new bishopric must be combined with a residentiary canonry for Winchester Cathedral.

Four years later he was translated to the bishopric of Wakefield where he soon became a highly respected figure, combining a pastoral sensitivity with a degree of toughness which the northern clergy and laity much appreciated.

Born in Cambridge, where his father was a vicar, he attended King’s College Choir School. Shortly before Christmas one year he broke the school rules by going to the cinema.

His experience as a broadcaster was put to good use when he became chairman of the Church Information Committee. He was also chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Council for the BBC and the IBA.

When the bishopric of Winchester became vacant in 1985 it seemed natural that James should be translated to the diocese he knew so well.

He was strongly opposed to the ordination of women to the priesthood and when the General Synod decided that women could become priests he was not prepared to ordain any.

His name was twice mentioned as a possibility for the Archbish-opric of Canterbury. But this was never an appointment for James and it is doubtful whether he would ever have accepted it.

Married to Sally Henshaw, who died in 2001, the couple had one son and two daughters.