GERALD BUTT, the Church Times’s former Middle East correspondent, has died, aged 72.

He began writing for the Church Times in March 1994, after a distinguished career spent reporting on the Middle East, where he was born, most notably for the BBC. During his time writing for the Church Times, he produced more than 600 stories, combining extensive local knowledge with a sensitivity about the many tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and the Palestinians. Other work commitments caused him to cease working as the paper’s official correspondent, but he continued to produce analytical pieces as late as August this year after a cancer diagnosis (Comment, 12 August).

Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent, said that she was sad to hear of his death, calling him “a distinguished correspondent, and kind colleague”.

Gerald Butt’s last review for the Church Times can be found here.

Obituary to follow.