The Rev. Forrest Church, the son of the late Idaho Sen. Frank Church, died Thursday at 61.

Church had battled esophageal cancer for three years. He died on the day after his birthday at his home in New York.

Church served as the minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls on New York City's Upper East Side for almost three decades. He wrote or edited 25 books, according to his Web site.

Church died after returning home from a hospital stay, family friend Garry Wenske, Executive Director of The Frank Church Institute at Boise State University, said today. Wenske said there may be a memorial service for Church in Boise. A memorial service is planned for Church Saturday, Oct. 3, in the sanctuary at All Souls Church in New York.

Church's mother Bethine Church lives in Boise.

Frank Church was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1956 and served from Jan. 3, 1957, to Jan. 3, 1981.