A THANKSGIVING service was held yesterday to celebrate the life of a well-known Methodist.

John Bisson died peacefully on July 31 in Bury Hospice at the age of 77.

He leaves a wife, Jane, children Helen, Mark, Andrew and the late Catherine.

Mr Bisson, of Ramsey Grove, was born and educated in Guernsey. He graduated in classics at university in Lampeter, Wales, and later in theology at the University of Oxford.

After marrying, he came to Bury in 1961 and took up a post at Bury Grammar School for Boys where he taught religious education, Latin and games. In his younger days, he played football, cricket and squash.

At Bury Grammar School he was in charge of cricket for which he had a great passion. He retired in 1995, and the school has added its own tribute to Mr Bisson on its website.

Yesterday’s thanks-giving service took place at his beloved Bolton Road Methodist Church in Bury which he had been associated with for more than 50 years.

He was already a Methodist local preacher when he joined the church on coming to live in the town.

He held a number of posts at the Methodist church including church secretary and pastoral secretary. As a keen historian, he wrote a book telling the story of the Methodist Lay Movement in the North West while a second volume detailed the history of Bolton Road Methodist Church and its origins in Elton.

Mr Bisson also had a long association with Christian Aid in Bury and District, which started in the 1960s. This ranged from him organising house-to-house collections by all denominations, to beco-ming secretary and co-ordinator of the committee.

Committee chairman Mr Bill Brison said: “I thought a great deal of John. He was a fine Christian gentleman.”

Mr Bisson was also deeply committed to the role of secretary of the Bible Society in Bury. The local branch proudly celebrated its bicentenary in 2010.

His committal took place at the East Lancashire Crema-torium in Radcliffe yesterday and preceded the thanksgiving service at Bolton Road Methodist Church.