Ian Cundy (Bishop, 1945—2009)
Bishop Ian Cundy was a devout man from childhood. A descendant of the half-brother of Henry Martyn, a 19th century missionary, spiritual greatness was in Bishop Cundy’s blood. Bishop Cundy was educated at Monkton Combe School and then gained his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and theology from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1967. He took his General Ordination Exam at Tyndale Hall, Bristol in 1969.
Bishop Cundy served as an assistant curate from 1969 to1973, then as a lecturer and chaplain from 1973 to 1977, and from 1978 to 1983 he served as the rector of Mortlake and East Sheen. In 1983, Cundy became the warden of Cranmer Hall, St Johns College, Durham. In 1996 he was enthroned as the 37th Lord Bishop of Peterborough and served as Bishop until his recent death in May of 2009.
In 1998, Bishop Cundy gained public attention when he was asked to release Princess Diana’s burial certificate. The release of this document confirmed that Princess Diana was truly buried at her childhood home on her family’s Northamtonshire estate, ending the rumors that she had instead been cremated or buried elsewhere. This brief moment of spotlight pales in comparison to the lifetime of service that Bishop Cundy gave to God and to the community of Peterborough.
Bishop Cundy was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October of 2007 and announced that he would retire in July of 2009 due to the disease. Tragically, Bishop Cundy was taken from his family and friends abruptly in May of 2009, collapsing on the way to a family function. Bishop Cundy is survived by his wife Jo and his three children, Robert, Paul and Elizabeth.
