Vicar found hanged in woodland may have been under too much stress, say his bosses
- Reverend Christopher Loveless found hanged near home in West Sussex
- Diocese of Chichester said father-of-two was 'struggling with stress'
- Married vicar was reported missing on Friday and body found an hour later
- Police are not treated married vicar's death as suspicious
Reverend Christopher Loveless (pictured) was found hanged in woodland near his home in Warnham, West Sussex, on Friday evening
A vicar found dead in woodland may have killed himself because he was suffering from stress, according to bosses at his diocese.
Reverend Christopher Loveless was found hanged in woodland near his home in Warnham, West Sussex, on Friday evening.
The married 53-year-old is said to have been 'struggling with stress' at the time of his death, according to a statement from the diocese of Chichester.
Father-of-two Rev Loveless had been reported missing from home at around 8pm on Friday, and his body was discovered by police an hour later.
Police are not searching for anyone else in connection with the incident which has been described as non-suspicious, and the case has been passed to the coroner.
Bishop of Horsham Mark Sowerby said the diocese would be praying for Rev Loveless's wife Natalie and their two children as well as for Mr Loveless, who spent his whole ministry in the diocese.
An Oxford graduate who studied at Lincoln Theological College, he was ordained priest in 1992 and served as vicar of Warnham for 15 years.
Mr Sowerby said: 'Christopher Loveless was a talented and experienced parish priest who was much loved in the parish of Warnham, where has had served since 1999.
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'His sudden death comes as a profound blow not only to his family and the people of Warnham, but to the many friends who loved and admired him and to all who benefited from his gentle pastoral care.
'May he rest in God's peace.'
Rev Loveless had worked at St Margaret's Church in Warnham (pictured), and after being ordained in 1992 spent his entire career working within the diocese of Chichester
In a statement, Sussex Police said: 'The vicar of Warnham, Christopher Loveless, was found hanged.
'We were contacted shortly before 8pm on Friday with a report that a 53-year-old man had gone missing from his home in Warnham.
'Officers searched the area and they found the body of a man at about 9pm in the woods near Tilletts Lane in Warnham.
'The death is not being treated as suspicious. The coroner's officer has been informed.'
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