HUNDREDS of people packed a church near Darlington yesterday for the funeral of a retired clergyman.
The village of Hurworth was brought almost to a standstill for the service for Canon Leonard Piper, who died last week, aged 94.
Police directed cars to park on the village green prior to the service at 3.30pm.
The retired clergyman was the former rector of Hurworth, Dinsdale and Sockburn, a canon emeritus of Durham Cathedral and an RAF chaplain for nearly 50 years. He was awarded the MBE for services to the people of Darlington in 2001.
The Reverend Nick Heron, chaplain to RAF Leeming, gave a bible reading and the Reverend Peter Holland spoke of his long friendship with Canon Piper.
"He actually became a second father to me," he said. "It was to him I always turned for encouragement."
Canon Piper was buried at Dinsdale.
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