On June 11th 1971 a letter arrived at Oak Hill Theological College addressed to the Principal. It came from the Prime Minister's secretary for appointments. The letter asked if Maurice was willing for his name to be submitted to the Queen for appointment to the See of Norwich.
Before lunch on that same day Maurice called on Sir John Hewitt at 10 Downing Street. The answer was 'Yes'. No hesitation. Maurice was never afraid of taking decisions, even in difficult times. That, I believe, is a good mark of leadership.
June 11th is, of course, the feast of St Barnabas - the great Apostle called Son of Encouragement. That too was appropriate - Maurice was an encourager.
This service is arranged around Michaelmas because it was on that day, September 29th, 1971, that Maurice was consecrated bishop in St Paul's Cathedral. Timothy Dudley-Smith was the preacher. He became 69th bishop of Norwich and 110th bishop in East Anglia. He was always conscious of that weight of history. I only worked closely with Maurice for two years - his first two years in Norwich. They were busy and exciting times. Very briefly I want to say three things.

In the Book of Common Prayer Baptism service the priest signs a cross on the child's forehead, as a sign of welcome and reception. The prayer ends with the words, 'and to continue Christ's soldier and servant unto his life's end.' Bishop Timothy has told of D Day and much courage. Also during the war there was a very hard time for Maurice at the Walcheren landings on the Dutch coast. On that occasion he had to swim ashore in full kit. It was November 1st in the North Sea.
But also he was courageous as a bishop. In his first year he was invited to preach at Walsingham, on Whit Monday for the National Pilgrimage. He accepted. As a prominent Evangelical this was a brave thing to do. Many from the Evangelical world and the Protestant Truth Society wrote harsh letters of condemnation. But Maurice stuck to his decision and became the first Bishop of Norwich to attend the Shrine at Walsingham. Courageous as a bishop and as a Royal Marine chaplain. The choice of Ephesians chapter 6 was a most appropriate reading; it speaks of the whole armour of God. Soldier and Servant.
About 10 years ago I remember being in the Cathedral with Maurice. We were in the Presbytery. In the floor there is a slab, which commemorates one of his predecessors, Percy Mark Herbert. The inscription reads, 'Servant of Christ'. Maurice told me that those were the words by which he would most like to be remembered. Indeed the opening text of his Enthronement sermon was, 'I am among you as one who serves'.

At Maurice's funeral at St Benedict's Church Horning his pastoral staff lay on the coffin. It is a simple Welsh shepherd's staff. That seemed just right. He was keen to be a pastoral bishop. One thing that he used to do was to write a letter to each clergyman on the day that his parish was being remembered in the Diocesan Calendar of Intercession. This ministry of pastoral care was especially a joint ministry with Margaret for clergy and their families, as well as a whole host in the wider community. St John chapter 10 with the teaching of Jesus as the Good Shepherd was right for our second reading.
At one time there used to be a Christmas Party for clergy children at Bishop's House. No prizes for guessing who wanted to be Father Christmas. Our family remember him, one Christmas, dressed to the nines and riding on a fire engine.
One of my abiding memories of Maurice is that he did enjoy being a bishop. This had pitfalls - there is a delicate balance here, but engaging friendliness and boyish enthusiasm goes a long way
.
Soldier and Servant Shepherd and pastor.

Evangelist

St Paul writes, 'Do the work of an Evangelist. Make full proof of thy ministry'. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 5.
Maurice will probably be best remembered in this role. When I saw Margaret at the time of Maurice's death she said that she married an evangelist. It was a key theme and purpose in his life right until the end. He loved to go around the diocese, to places further afield in this country and to many lands around the world. He had the heart of an evangelist, whether preaching in the open air at Walsingham or to a great gathering with Cliff Richard in the cathedral.
But the picture that I have most clearly in my mind is of Maurice, with booklets in one hand and pastoral staff in the other, moving amongst a crowd of people. Booklets and prayer cards were distributed widely. These were simple words to help women and men, boys and girls in the way of Christ. At his enthronement he preached a long sermon. At the end of the service he announced that, at the door, were copies of the sermon for people to take home. It was Norwich Booklet number 1. Booklets and prayer cards and pictures were an essential part of his life and ministry.

And so it is today that we gather here to give thanks for many, many things and especially for life at home with family and friends. Margaret was such a stay and support through all these years. It was never easy for her and especially in those early years. The style of the new bishop was such a contrast to his predecessor. Not everyone welcomed the change.
In 1985 Archbishop Runcie came to visit Norwich at the end of Maurice's episcopate. He addressed the clergy in the cathedral. One thing that he told us was that Maurice, in the last twelve months, had spoken in the House of Lords more often than any other bishop. He was fluent speaker, a great raconteur and teller of jokes. The one thing that I will remember above all others is the fun we had working together. It was a tonic. And along with it went great energy. One of his favourite sayings was, 'I am an enthusiast by temperament, and optimist by faith.'
These last years have not been easy for Maurice. He was registered blind. The infirmities of old age took their toll, but right until my last visit we could always laugh and have fun. But on that day, at the end of May, he was quiet and there was no laughter. I am sure that death came as a friend, quietly and suddenly. He had known Norfolk as a boy. His uncle was rector of Saxlingham Nethergate. Maurice, an only child, used to come to stay with the family. It is good that he and Margaret returned here some two years ago. And now today his ashes have been laid to rest in the Cloister. That is fitting and right.
Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.

Richard Hanmer.

More sermons, modern and historical, available in Norwich Cathedral Library

Back to Sermons homepage