The Revd David Duke RIP
Bishop.Chaplain
We regret to announce the death, on 17th September 2025, of the Revd David Duke.
Born in 1940, David studied at Christ Church College Oxford and then at Cuddesdon College, and was ordained deacon in 1965 and priest in 1966, serving his title at St Thomas’ Pennywell.
He was subsequently Curate of St Oswald’s in Durham (1968-1970), and of Harton (1970-1974).
The rest of his paid employment was outside the Church, mainly within social work (he obtained a CQSW in 1981). He held PTO in the Diocese between 1985-1986, mainly helping at St Nicholas’ Hedworth (where he also played the organ). In 1996, he was licensed as Self-Supporting Minister, also in Hedworth, which role he held until 2013. He then once again received PTO in the Diocese, which he held until 2023. The pandemic lockdowns had a deep impact on both him and Kathleen, his wife, and his health had deteriorated in latter years. He was much-loved by the people of St Nicholas', however.
His funeral will be at St Nicholas’ Hedworth on Tuesday 14th October at 10.30am, followed by committal at South Shields Crematorium at 11,15am.
Please pray for Kathleen and all the family, and for all who mourn his death.
We than God for David’s life, work and ministry. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Chris Knights
Chaplain to the Bishop of Durham