The Archbishop of York has spoken of how he spent a year working with the dying as a young priest.

Stephen Cottrell revealed he did so to face his fear about how to minister to the dying and the bereaved.

He also revealed his own attitude to death.

The Archbishop was giving a meditation on Radio 4 on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

"What did I learn?" he said. "I learned how it is possible to live and to love right up until the point of death.

"I learned that holding someone’s hand was more precious and more valuable than words.

"I also found that God was present: present in the skill and care of the medical staff; present in the attendance of loved ones who watched and prayed and held hands; and present even in the tea trolley and all the little conversations I enjoyed with those who were dying and approaching death with such fortitude – people who often calmed my fears much more than I calmed theirs."

He said the saddest thing he saw during his time at St Christopher's Hospice in South London was a group of keen Christians demanding that God would give their dying friend a reprieve or a miracle or a bit more time to live.

The greatest thing he saw was those who accepted death and commended their souls to God.

He said: "We are all going to die one day.

"On that day, I don’t want to fight against death. Nor do I want to try to cut a deal with God so that I can have a few more days.

"I want there to be thanksgiving in my heart for all the joys of life and I want to place myself in the hands of God.

"And isn’t this what we are doing this evening as a nation, remembering someone whose life and service has been so part of our national life and of the story of our nation for nearly 100 years?

"We give thanks. We remember. We place him – as we place ourselves and all our loved ones who have died – into the hands of God."

The meditation ended with a prayer for the Royal Family all those who grieve and for Prince Philip.