TRIBUTES have been paid to an inspirational woman who has died aged 91.

Una Kroll, who spent the later years of her life living in Bury, was famous for her humanitarian work.

A doctor, nun, a feminist campaigner, an activist for peace and justice, she lived a busy and sometimes controversial life.

Born in London, Una lived in Paris, Latvia and Russia. She went on to study medicine at Cambridge before working in a hospital in Liberia.

In 1997, when living in Wales, she became a priest but shocked admirers and friends by publicly leaving her priesthood.

Una’s life was a passionate but stormy love affair with the church but in her final years, physically frail but still mentally and spiritually vigorous, she embraced a solitary life of prayer for the many she loved and for the peace of the world.

James Frith, former Bury North Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate, said Una had spearheaded a number of world-changing campaigns.

Mr Frith said: “Una inspired the virtues of compassion, service and dignity in how she practised the principles of loving ones enemy with peace and justice.

“At 89, when I first met her, she still had the courage, wit and feistiness from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.

“To all those she struggled for and with, you wanted Una on your side. She was a prime mover in helping create and deliver our NHS, she fought women’s rights her entire life including helping change the church’s sometimes blood boiling outlook on equality with her tireless campaigning for women priests.

“She fought apartheid, long before others joined the fight.

“Life gives you extraordinary moments and in Una it gives us one of our most extraordinary human beings.

“I am proud to have known her and to have campaigned alongside her.

“Let us hope that in death, a reflection of her life can give us new resolution to all be a lot more like Una.

Reverend Dave Thompson of St John with St Marks Church in Bury said: “She was a remarkable woman who influenced the church in matters of equality and campaigned tirelessly for women’s rights.

“She was humble and incredibly caring and although she was just a small lady physically her enormous heart made up for that.

“She attended weekly at St John with St Mark’s right up until she wasn’t physically able to last summer but she will be missed enormously by thousands.

“ She will never be far from our thoughts and our thoughts also go out to her family.”

Reverend Elizabeth Binns, of St Thomas and St John in Radcliffe, said: “I knew her for about 10 years and she was incredibly supportive to me.

“She was a very special person who was extremely strong and gentle at the same time and I will miss her dearly.”

Una is survived by her children — Florence, Leo, Elizabeth and Una, and 10 grandchildren.