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| The Rev Keith Gilley obituary | |
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| My friend and colleague Keith Gilley, who has died aged 76, was a Unitarian minister and editor. He believed in radical change yet was always courteous, initiating that change by "gentle transitions" – a favourite phrase. | My friend and colleague Keith Gilley, who has died aged 76, was a Unitarian minister and editor. He believed in radical change yet was always courteous, initiating that change by "gentle transitions" – a favourite phrase. |
| After a boyhood in Sunderland, where his father was a shipyard welder, he won a place at Lincoln College, Oxford. First came his national service in the RAF, during which he learned Russian in a year in order to listen in on pilots' transmissions. | After a boyhood in Sunderland, where his father was a shipyard welder, he won a place at Lincoln College, Oxford. First came his national service in the RAF, during which he learned Russian in a year in order to listen in on pilots' transmissions. |
| Keith started out as a teacher, but soon returned to Oxford to train for the ministry at Manchester College (now Harris Manchester College), followed by a Harvard Fulbright scholarship, studying Unitarian Universalism. His first and only ministry was at the lively Golders Green Unitarians from 1967 to 1988. In 1967 he married Judy, a GP, who is now an artist. | Keith started out as a teacher, but soon returned to Oxford to train for the ministry at Manchester College (now Harris Manchester College), followed by a Harvard Fulbright scholarship, studying Unitarian Universalism. His first and only ministry was at the lively Golders Green Unitarians from 1967 to 1988. In 1967 he married Judy, a GP, who is now an artist. |
| During his ministry, Keith promoted community and inter-faith relations, an Amnesty group and debates on feminism and abortion law reform. He took part in editing the inclusive hymnal Hymns for Living. He led groups in "building your own theology" and celebrated the first woman to be recognised as a minister in England (in 1904), the Unitarian Gertrude von Petzold, by writing her entry in the New Dictionary of National Biography. His congregation gave hospitality to an American Episcopalian female priest so that she could celebrate communion in Britain. | During his ministry, Keith promoted community and inter-faith relations, an Amnesty group and debates on feminism and abortion law reform. He took part in editing the inclusive hymnal Hymns for Living. He led groups in "building your own theology" and celebrated the first woman to be recognised as a minister in England (in 1904), the Unitarian Gertrude von Petzold, by writing her entry in the New Dictionary of National Biography. His congregation gave hospitality to an American Episcopalian female priest so that she could celebrate communion in Britain. |
| Keith encouraged inclusive attitudes towards homosexuality, supported a gay switchboard and, with Rabbi Lionel Blue, led gay bereavement groups. He proposed the motion that "the ministry of the denomination be open to all regardless of … sexual orientation" at the 1976 Unitarian Annual Meetings. Long before civil partnerships and the equal marriage debate he conducted "gay unions". | Keith encouraged inclusive attitudes towards homosexuality, supported a gay switchboard and, with Rabbi Lionel Blue, led gay bereavement groups. He proposed the motion that "the ministry of the denomination be open to all regardless of … sexual orientation" at the 1976 Unitarian Annual Meetings. Long before civil partnerships and the equal marriage debate he conducted "gay unions". |
| He taught religious education ("indoctrinating with liberalism," one pupil called it) at a local comprehensive school and at Channing school in Highgate, where he is fondly remembered. After 21 years at Golders Green, Keith was for 17 years an outstanding editor of the nonconformist newspaper the Inquirer. He visited innumerable congregations, eventually serving as denominational president and finally honorary member of the General Assembly. A Guardian reader and contributor to the Face to faith column, in retirement he became editor of Faith and Freedom, a liberal religious journal. | He taught religious education ("indoctrinating with liberalism," one pupil called it) at a local comprehensive school and at Channing school in Highgate, where he is fondly remembered. After 21 years at Golders Green, Keith was for 17 years an outstanding editor of the nonconformist newspaper the Inquirer. He visited innumerable congregations, eventually serving as denominational president and finally honorary member of the General Assembly. A Guardian reader and contributor to the Face to faith column, in retirement he became editor of Faith and Freedom, a liberal religious journal. |
| A knowledgable wild-flower lover, he published several volumes of poems, sang Tex Ritter songs, supported Sunderland AFC and was an adoring grandfather. | A knowledgable wild-flower lover, he published several volumes of poems, sang Tex Ritter songs, supported Sunderland AFC and was an adoring grandfather. |
| He is survived by Judy, his son, Wayland, and daughter, Anstey, and five grandchildren. | He is survived by Judy, his son, Wayland, and daughter, Anstey, and five grandchildren. |