The sudden death of a popular church minister and Chaplain at Bradford Crown Court has shocked and saddened many across the city.

Moina Bernard, associate minister at St Peter's Church, Shipley was taken ill while giving a sermon on Sunday and died after collapsing on Tuesday.

Announcing the tragedy, the St Peter's website says: "We are very sorry to have to announce that our lovely Rev Moina Bernard passed away in hospital yesterday "Her brother, Julie Bacon and Karen P were with her. She had collapsed earlier in the day after being unwell for a couple of days."

The Bishop of Bradford, Right Reverend Toby Howarth said: "Moina will be missed as a much-loved and greatly valued priest, in her roles as Courts Chaplain in Bradford as well as supporting the church's ministry at St Peter's in Shipley.

"I was shocked to hear of her death, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues.”

Friend and colleague Eileen Weaver commented: "I was shocked and saddened with the death of Moina.

"We worked as part of a team at Bradford Court Chaplaincy Service in the Crown & Magistrates Courts.

"She was one of our Chaplains.

"I also consider her to be a friend.

"She was a caring and compassionate person and a lovely colleague to be around "I will miss her terribly.

"Rest in peace Moina."

Rev Bernard, who would have been 60 this year, joined St Peter’s as an Associate Minister in Oct 2013.

She was ordained in 2009 and served her Curacy in Tong and Holme Wood. Before that she was a St Peter’s Mission Partner serving with Youth With A Mission both in the UK and overseas.

Brought up in Bradford, she was appointed as one of the Chaplains at Bradford Crown Court in November 2012.

She worked for many years as a florist in Keighley then moved to Sussex to work for a Christian missionary organisation - Youth With A Mission - and served for 15 years as a discipleship training leader, running a personnel department for missionaries serving overseas.

In 2007 Moina moved back north to train as a Priest in the Church of England, studying in Durham, and was ordained in Bradford in 2009, working since as a Curate in the parish of Tong and Holmewood.