Tributes have been paid for an Essex bishop who died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Bishop of Bradwell, John Wraw, who lived in Horndon-on-the-Hill, died peacefully in his sleep following a three-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Bishop Wraw took up his position in 2012, believing that the Church of England needed to “reach out and change society.”

He was born in 1959 in Hampshire but he grew up in Chester.

He went on to study Law at Lincoln College Oxford then later trained for ordination at Fitzwilliam College and Ridley Hall Cambridge.

He was ordained in 1985 and served in Hereford and Sheffield dioceses before becoming Archdeacon of Wilts in 2004 and then Bishop of Bradwell in 2012.

An active man, In 2009 he took part in the first leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race from Hull to Rio de Janeiro.

He leaves behind a widow, Gillian, and four grown-up children.

Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, has said: “Bishop John was a wonderful servant of the gospel and a fantastic colleague.

“As an archdeacon in Wiltshire he was known to be dependable and creative.

“As a bishop serving in this great diocese of Chelmsford these qualities blossomed and bore fruit as he helped take forward our diocesan vision for growth and renewal.

“He quickly won the confidence of the clergy and the love of the people he served.”

Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP for Thurrock, said: “So sad to hear about the passing of Bishop of Bradwell‏ John Wraw.

“John was a wise & thoughtful man who bore his illness with courage and stoicism. He will be much missed.

“I will certainly miss his frank and spiritual counsel. My thoughts are with his wife Gillian and his family at this time.”

His Funeral Eucharist will be held at Chelmsford Cathedral on Monday August 7 at 1.00pm.