He died last weekend at the Gold Coast at the age of 89 after a long illness.

Sir John was primate for about seven years from 1982.

After ordination, he served a curacy at Manchester in Britain.

He emigrated to Queensland in the 1950s. He went back to Manchester for four years before returning to Australia.

Sir John served in Bundaberg and later Emerald, North Rockhampton and South Yarra in Victoria.

He was elected bishop of Riverina in 1966 and bishop of Rockhampton in 1971.

In 1980, he was elected archbishop of Brisbane.

The current Primate, Phillip Aspinall, said yesterday that Sir John had played a major role in Anglicanism globally as Australian primate and had been an active proponent of stronger ecumenical ties.

He had signed a declaration to work towards greater unity with the then Catholic archbishop of Brisbane, Francis Rush, in 1984.

Sir John is survived by his wife, Dell, two daughters and three stepsons. His funeral will be held on Monday.