ONE of the founders of Kemp Hospice and a popular Kidderminster reverend has died, at the age of 82.

Jennifer Binnian passed away peacefully at her home following heart failure, on Sunday, August 6.

Mrs Binnian was one of the founding members of Kidderminster's Kemp Hospice, as well as founding Bodenham Arboretum, with her late husband, David.

Jennifer was born in Kidderminster in September 5, 1934, and later married David Binnian in 1958.

Together the couple had three children James, Ryland and Rosanna - tragically losing Ryland to leukaemia at the age of 27 in 1989. They have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mrs Binnian began her church ministry as a lay reader and rose to become Deaconess and then Deacon, before making history in May 1994 as one of the first ordained women priests in the UK.

Her strong faith led her the hospice movement and she founded Kemp Trust in March 1980 with her friends Betty Davies and Teresa Grantham. The trust - which later became Kemp Hospice - was named in memory of Jennifer's father, Stanley Kemp Cattell.

Heidi Hawkins, chief executive of Kemp Hospice, said: "Amongst Jennifer’s many achievements and life’s work, our charity and the help we are able to give to people within the Wyre Forest will be a lasting legacy for many years to come.

"It is a privilege to be associated with Kemp Hospice, an organisation rooted in our community and grounded still by the strong values and integrity so important to Jennifer and the other founder members of the hospice.

"We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for bringing Kemp to life and on behalf of all of us here, and those who have benefitted from the services we provide, I would like to say how grateful we are to Jennifer."

Jennifer and David bought Bodenham, a derelict farm, in the early 1970s and with great vision and creativity, set about its transformation.

The couple's daughter, Rosie, said: "Building on time honoured principles of hard work, integrity and uncompromised quality, the long-term stewardship of the land has been their legacy, making Bodenham Arboretum the beautiful place that it is today and the saying 'behind every great man is an even greater woman' certainly stands true."

The Binnian family, now in its fourth generation, are to ensure that the couple's values which have been instrumental in crafting Bodenham's sense of identity and purpose, will continue to be reflected in all that it does. Their son James will ensure that both David and Jennifer's spirits live on through what has been described as 'Worcestershire's hidden garden'.

A small, private family cremation will take place on Friday, August 25.

A thanksgiving service to celebrate the life of Jennifer, will take place on Tuesday, September 12, at 2.30pm at St John the Baptist Church, in Wolverley.