THE head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has paid tribute after the death of a popular and well-loved priest.

Monsignor Kevin Nichols, 76, died peacefully on Sunday at the Little Sisters of the Poor home, in Newcastle, where he lived, after a lengthy illness.

Known for his teaching and writing, he was the author and composer of the modern hymn In Bread We Bring You.

Born in Wallsend, North Tyneside, in December 1929, he trained at Ushaw College, Durham, and was ordained a priest at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle, in 1953.

He studied at Cambridge University under CS Lewis, gaining a double first in English in 1956, then taught for six years in the North-East.

In 1962, he took up a lecturing appointment at Christ's College, Liverpool, eventually heading its education department.

He was praised for his work for the church worldwide, and was named as a monsignor by Pope Paul VI.

Despite the acclaim, he remained modest and unassuming, maintaining a love for his North-East roots.

After time as associate professor at the Catholic University of America, in Washington DC, he returned to serve as parish priest in County Durham, in Barnard Castle and at Holy Family Church, Darlington, before he became assistant priest at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle, in 1998.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, said he will be much-missed. He said: "He was a brilliant and most thoughtful priest and gave much to the church, not only in his diocese, but in the wider church in England and Wales."

A funeral Mass will take place at St Mary's Cathedral, Clayton Street West, Newcastle, from noon on Tuesday, with burial at Minsteracres Monastery, in Northumberland, at 2.30pm.

His body will be received at the cathedral at 7pm on Monday, before evening prayers.