Obituary: Reverend Canon James Naylor Wynn-Evans, 76

James Naylor Wynn-Evans, known as Jim, was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside in 1934 and attended Magdalen College at Oxford University.

Throughout his life he had a mission to make the world a better place for the underprivileged.

He brought this ethos and enthusiasm with him when he moved to Edinburgh in 1967 where he started in the Scottish Episcopal Church as Curate of St Columba's by the Castle.

He also served as Rector at St Margaret's church, Easter Road from 1969-1985 and Rector of St David's Episcopal Church from 1985-1997.

He was a canon from 1986, then in his retirement honorary canon at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral.

Throughout his mission he pioneered many successful charity projects.

His most notable projects were during his time at St David's, in Pilton, and included establishing houses where young adults on their gap year had the opportunity to experience care work alongside other Christians, negotiating the sale of the rectory to a group of GPs providing valuable income for the church and a medical centre for Pilton.

He also set up a social care service for elderly people.

Last year a charity venture saw him spend an hour on the Plinth in Trafalgar Square as a "live artwork", raising an impressive 6000 at the age of 75.

The money went towards renovating the roof at Old St Paul's Church in Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh - he was a member of the congregation there and convenor of its property committee.

In 1997 he took on the full-time position of the press officer for the then Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway.

He was an openly gay member of the Church and on his travels in South Africa he met Desmond Tutu - a supporter of gay clergy - and was instrumental in bringing him to a Provincial Conference of the Scottish Episcopal Church held in St Andrews in the mid-1990s.

He loved to travel, and among the places he visited were Cuba, Australia and Kenya. He also had a great passion for horticulture, maintaining Old St Paul's gardens as well as his own private allotment at Warriston.

He was an active socialite and will be remembered fondly by friends and members of past parishes for his pastoral care, grounded realism, dry wit and his readiness to counsel people with compassion.

He had a high quality of ministry, delivered with pastoral sensitivity and always encouraged his congregation to voice their opinions.

After a short illness, Mr Wynn-Evans passed away on August 20 at home in the company of David, his partner of thirty years.