Tributes continue to beloved Wolverhampton bishop

Bishop Theophilus Augustus McCalla MBE, aged 86, died in hospital on Thursday, April 2 of coronavirus - he had been ill with the virus for two weeks and had underlying health conditions.

He died just 24 hours after bishop fellow bishop Horatio Fearon, aged in his 80s, who died on Wednesday.

Bishop McCalla was a prominent figure and founder of the Church Of God Of Prophecy in the West Midlands. Its Wolverhampton church is in Gloucester Street, Whitmore Reans.

People who knew him have been expressing their condolences and paying tribute to his life.

Darren Blackwood, from Birmingham, said: "Bishop McCalla from Church Of God Of Prophecy you have gone on before us a true soldier.

"Over the years I have grown to admire and respect you this man of God especially when he was the shepherd at Aberdeen Street Church.

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"Sir, your labour has not been in vain you will always leave an indelible print in my life.

"Gone but you will most definitely not be forgotten. God bless you to the McCallla family."

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, of St Peter's Ward in Wolverhampton, added: "Bishop Fearon and Bishop McCalla have both become victims of coronavirus.

"Really sad to hear this, my deepest condolences to the families, gone but never forgotten, may they rest in peace."

Pastor McCalla's niece, Professor Doreen McCalla, from Compton, thanked people for their condolences on social media.

She said: "Thank you all for your kind words of condolences and prayers at the passing of Bishop H. Fearon and my uncle, Bishop T.A. McCalla.

"Many thanks also for respecting the families' wishes to grieve in private whilst continuing your public show of love. It means a lot."