Maurice Harland

The Right Reverend Maurice Harland
Bishop of Durham
Diocese	Diocese of Durham
In office	1956–1966 (retired)
Predecessor	Michael Ramsey
Successor	Ian Ramsey
Other posts	Bishop suffragan of Croydon (1942–1947) Archdeacon of Croydon (1946–1947) Bishop of Lincoln (11 July 1947 {confirmed}–7 July 1956 {translated})
Orders
Ordination	1922 (deacon) 1923 (priest)
Consecration	1942
Personal details
Born	17 April 1896 Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire
Died	29 September 1986 (aged 90) Chichester, West Sussex
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	William & Elizabeth Harland
Spouse	Agnes Harland MBE (née Winckley)
Children	two daughters
Profession	airman
Education	St Peter's School, York
Alma mater	Exeter College, Oxford Leeds Clergy School

Maurice Henry Harland (17 April 1896–29 September 1986) was a 20th-century Anglican bishop, his most significant appointment being Bishop of Durham from 1956 to 1966.^[1]

Early life

Harland was born on 17 April 1896, the son of the Revd William George and Clara Elizabeth Harland and educated at St Peter's School, York.^[2]

Harland served in the British Army during World War I. He was commissioned into the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 and served in the Royal Field Artillery until 1916, when he joined the newly formed Royal Flying Corps,^{[lower-alpha 1]} rising to the rank of lieutenant by 1919.

Marries and begins ministry

On demobilisation he went to Exeter College, Oxford,^{[lower-alpha 2]} graduating BA in 1922, MA 1927.^{[lower-alpha 3]} After a period of study at Leeds Clergy School he became a curate at St Peter's Leicester, during which time he married Agnes Winckley.^{[lower-alpha 4]} They had two daughters.

Career progresses

After five years he was appointed successively priest in charge of St Anne's Conventional District,^[3] Perpetual Curate^{[lower-alpha 5]} of St Matthew's Holbeck, Leeds, Vicar of St Mary's, Windermere and Rural Dean of Ambleside before his first posting as suffragan bishop of Croydon^[5] in 1942.^[6] In 1947 he was transferred to the See of Lincoln^[7] where he served a further nine years, being appointed to the House of Lords in 1954. His final appointment was to the more senior Bishopric of Durham.^{[lower-alpha 6]}

Retirement

Harland resigned his see in 1966 and retired to West Wittering, living another 20 years before dying on 29 September 1986.

Notes

1. Afterwards the Royal Air Force. He was not the only future bishop to serve in this branch: see also William Anderson
2. Made Honorary Fellow in 1950
3. Unlike other universities this is essentially the same degree, a period of time and a small payment securing the higher degree
4. She was awarded the MBE in 1967
5. When a new parish was created from a larger rectoral or vicarious parish, the incumbent, or parish priest was styled a “perpetual curate".^[4]
6. In which capacity he was awarded an honorary DD in 1956.

References

1. The Times, Thursday, 19 July 1956; p. 6; Issue 53587; col A Introduced as Bishop of Durham
2. Harland, Rt. Rev Maurice Henry. Who Was Who. 1920–2014 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
3. Leicester Churches
4. Faith, History and Practice of the Church of England, Eaton, W.A. (London,Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1954 rpnt 1972 p. 37, ISBN 0-340-00718-4
5. The Times, Monday, 27 July 1942; p. 6; Issue 49298; col C Appointed Bishop of Croydon
6. Crockford's clerical directory (Lambeth, Church House, 1982 ISBN 0-19-200010-1) & "MH Harland". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 November 2015. (subscription required)
7. The Times, Wednesday, 14 May 1947; p. 4; Issue 50760; col C Nominated as Bishop of Lincoln