A CHURCHMAN hanged himself with a hosepipe after battling with depression for much of his life, an inquest heard.

Marcus Saville-Deane, 45, who had worked at Oxford's St Peter's Church, in Wolvercote, and St Margaret's Church, in Walton Manor, was found in a kneeling position beneath a tree at the bottom of his garden in Grove Street, Summertown, Oxford, in September, 2004.

Yesterday, Oxfordshire coroner Dr Nicholas Gardiner was told Rev Saville-Deane - who had counselled families following 1989's Hillsborough tragedy - had suffered from depression for a number of years and it had led to him giving up work at St Peter's in 1997.

He later worked as a porter at the Radcliffe Infirmary and continued some church work at St Margaret's Church up until his death.

A friend, and landlord of two months, Robert Porteous said he became concerned about Rev Saville-Deane when he did not see him for supper on the Sunday before he was found hanging. Despite trying to find him, it was not until the morning that he saw Rev Saville-Dean beneath the tree.

Mr Porteous said: "I thought he was praying when I first saw him and I thought to myself, 'Thank God he is here'. It was only when I touched him (that I realised he was dead)."

The inquest was told the hosepipe may have stretched, leading him to be in a 'praying' position when found.

Dr Gardiner said: "Marcus Saville-Deane, despite his religious feelings on the matter, decided to take his own life."

The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court was briefly interrupted when the deceased's 82-year-old father, Geoff Saville-Deane, lost consciousness in the public gallery. His wife Mary later said: "He just fainted. I think he was just upset."

The hearing continued after paramedics arrived.

Claire Wells, Rev Saville-Deane's sister, said after the inquest: "Marcus is hugely missed, he was a very popular and charismatic man. Unfortunately he just had a long-term struggle with depression. It was a shock but it wasn't unexpected. Because of his religious beliefs one hopes that he has found peace where he is now."

Rev Andrew Wingfield-Digby, a friend of 20 years and the vicar of St Andrew's Church in Linton Road, said he had been a popular man who was well-known in Oxford.

He said Rev Saville-Dean, whose funeral was attended by the Bishop of Oxford, had had a difficult relationship with the church.

Rev Wingfield-Digby said: "The depression filled him with a lack of self-worth and I think he felt he was not worthy.

"He was very ill. I don't ever remember him not battling with the depression, but he could also be great fun."