Stuart King, co-founder of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), died on Saturday 29 August aged 98.
After serving in the RAF during the Second World War, King founded MAF in 1945 and was one of the first British airmen to take light aircraft to Africa in 1948 to aid isolated villages.
Today, MAF flies to locations across 27 countries, delivering relief workers, doctors, pastors, food and medicine to remote communities.
’Service of Christ’
Lord Dannatt, former President of the Soldiers and Airmen Scripture Readers Association, said the pilot’s passion and conviction “has changed the lives of so many.”
“Stuart King’s legacy is immense, and his family should be justifiably proud of all that he achieved in the service of Christ.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, added that King’s work “has had a profound impact on the ministry of many people across the world and the Anglican Communion”.
Speaking during his 98th birthday celebrations, King said: “MAF is a family, and I am grateful to be a part of it, and for the part God has enabled me to be involved in.”