A PRIEST who made a vital contribution to the D-Day Landings will be among those remembered at a special service at Ripon Cathedral on Sunday.

The Founders and Benefactors Service will pay tribute to the many people who have left legacies for Ripon Cathedral.

Among those recognised will be the Rev John Langdon, who, as a former Royal Marine, was in charge of landing troops on Sword Beach during the D-Day Landings in World War II.

The young lieutenant made five crossings - delivering more than 5,000 British and US troops to Normandy before his ship was sunk.

He had just enough time to rescue his bible and tennis rackets before his vessel, HMS Empire Broadsword, went down.

Rev Langdon, whose ecclesiastical career included being a minor canon at Ripon and Chaplain of St John’s and St Mary’s Magdalen’s Chapels, received the Legion d’Honneur medal shortly before his death two years ago.

A credence - or side - table, bought with his legacy, is one of several items being dedicated by the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, during Sunday’s Founders and Benefactors Service..

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson said: “I’ve known John all my life; he baptised me and when I moved to Ripon he led the prayers in my installation service.

“I was not surprised when I learnt that he had kindly left money to the cathedral - knowing how important it had been to him over the decades.

“In a service when we will be celebrating the contributions made by people over 13 centuries, John Langdon’s legacy is a reminder that those leaving legacies today make an important contribution to sustaining the mission and ministry of this ancient cathedral.”

Another legacy being dedicated is a missal stand - a lectern which holds the books used in Holy Communion - donated by long-time server Norman Kitney in memory of his late wife Ann.

It was made at the famous Mouseman workshops in Kilburn in North Yorkshire, making it particularly fitting that it now stands in a cathedral whose medieval wood carvings inspired the Mouseman himself - Robert Thompson. The service is at 3.30pm.