AN ANGLICAN deacon has died from a heart attack less than a year before he was due to be ordained as a priest.

Father Terence Percival was deacon of the Traditional Anglican Church and worked at the Havelock Centre, in Darlington, helping people in the community in which he lived.

He died last Wednesday from a heart attack in hospital.

Mr Percival, 56, was born in Manchester, but moved to Shildon, County Durham, when he was a toddler. He lived there until he joined the Army.

He was based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, and served in Scotland and Germany.

He returned home to look after his mother before he moved to Darlington more than 20 years ago.

He met Christine and they married in 1989 at Darlington Registry Office.

Mr Percival, known as Terry, of Alfred Street, Darlington, was heavily involved in the community towards the end of his life.

He had worked with the church for about six years and had trained as a deacon.

He was also training to become a priest and was due to be ordained next May.

He held church services in the Havelock Centre, near his home, where he also worked with local groups.

Mr Percival was a hard-working member of North Riverside Residents' Association and regularly visited the sick.

Father Ian Westby, from the church, said: "He was a man of the people working within the community where he lived.

"He was a community-spirited man. He would do anything for anybody.

"He would visit people if they were on their own or if they were ill."

His funeral will take place tomorrow at Darlington Crematorium.

It will be led by the Very Reverend Brian Gill, vicar general of the Traditional Anglican Church, on behalf of the Bishop David Moyer.

Mr Moyer said: "He was a kind and gentle man who obviously loved the church."

Mrs Percival's niece, Helen Alexander, said: "You couldn't meet a more placid man.

"He was very kind and very popular."