The renowned preacher and theologian Tim Keller has died at the age of 72.

In an email to members, New York's Redeemer Presbyterian Church confirmed its founder and senior pastor was now "rejoicing with his Saviour in heaven".

Keller had been battling pancreatic cancer for three years and on Thursday his son Michael announced that he was going home from hospital to receive hospice care.

In a statement, the church said: "It is with a heavy heart that I write today to inform you that Redeemer Presbyterian Church founder and long-time senior pastor, Tim Keller, passed away this morning at age 72, trusting in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.

"We are forever grateful for his leadership, heart, and dedication to sharing the love of Christ with others. While we will miss his presence here, we know he is rejoicing with his Saviour in heaven.

"There will never be another Tim Keller and we will all miss him."

Keller was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and became a Christian while at university.

He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America after studying theology.

Having served in various church settings he later founded Redeemer which went on to become one of New York's biggest churches.

Paying tribute on Twitter, Paul Woolley from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, said: "I remember walking into a church in New York over 25 years ago and seeing someone relate Scripture to culture in a way I hadn’t seen before.

"That was my introduction to @timkellernyc. I am deeply grateful for his life and work. May he rest in peace and rise in glory."

Church leader, author and campaigner Ben Lindsay said: "What a mighty man of God we have just lost. The modern day CS Lewis. His writing and preaching has shaped my theology for the past 20 years. Rest well @timkellernyc and 'Well done, good and faithful servant’."

Redeemer church says a worship service, followed by a memorial, will be held in New York City in the coming weeks and will be live-streamed globally.