FRIENDS of the Baptist minister found hanged at his church in Mumbles, Swansea are still looking for reasons for the shocking death.

The Rev Tom Griffiths, 52, was found hanged in a upstairs room at Mumbles Baptist Church by a woman parishioner on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Griffiths had returned last Monday from a three-month Christian exchange trip to New Zealand.

Friends said they had heard he had not been eating and had trouble sleeping while in New Zealand. Close friend David Morgan, a Swansea businessman, said, "His wife put it down to homesickness."

Mr Griffiths's wife, Sue, who worked in the Abbey National in Swansea and his 24-year-old son Richard, also a bank worker, were being comforted by friends and family at their home in Mumbles yesterday.

The Rev Geoff Faukes of Pantygwydr Baptist Church in Swansea said, "Pastorally speaking, Tom was superb and his people loved him. He was a very compassionate man who identified strongly with other people's predicaments. At the same time though he was a very private individual."

Police have ruled out foul play.