Sir Marcus Loane died a few days ago at the age of 97.

He was vice-principal and then principal of Moore Theological College.  In 1966 he became Australia’s first native-born Archbishop and in 1978 became Primate of Australia.

I have a high regard for Marcus Loane’s writings, particularly the sets of short biographies that were first published up to 60 years ago.  He was writing winningly about the English Reformers, Puritans and evangelical leaders at a time when few others seemed aware of their importance and value.

Oxford and the Evangelical Succession (1950), contains excellent studies of George Whitefield, John Newton, Thomas Scott, Richard Cecil and Daniel Wilson.

Masters of the English Reformation (1954) covers Thomas Bilney, William Tyndale, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and Thomas Cranmer.

Makers of Puritan History (1961) covers Alexander Henderson, Samuel Rutherford, John Bunyan and Richard Baxter.

Pioneers of the Reformation in England (1964) covers John Frith, Robert Barnes, John Rogers and John Bradford.

His biographical writings also include

John Charles Ryle 1816-1900 (1983)

Marcus Loane also wrote a number of helpful expository studies.

There will be many like me who, though we never knew the man, are thankful to God for his life and ministry.