Francis Morse
Francis Morse, M.A. (18 May 1818 – 18 September 1886[1]) was a priest in the Church of England.
Family
Francis Morse was the son of Thomas Morse and Elizabeth of Blundeston, Suffolk. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge.[2]
He married Clarissa Catharine Gedge on 3 January 1849 in St. Philip's Church, Birmingham, (now
- Catherine Elizabeth Morse (1850–1936) (married Rev. Hon. William Edward Bowen)
- Clara Morse (b. 1851)
- Edward St John Morse (1852–1941) (vicar of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Shelfordfrom 1882 – 1940)
- Sydney Morse (1 Jun 1854 – 27 Jan 1929)
- Harold Morse (b. 1860)
- Harriet Emily Morse (b. 1864)
- Winifred Mary Morse (b. 1868)
- Margaret Ellinor Morse (1870–1931) (married Henry Wilson (architect and designer)
- Frances Hilda Morse (b. 1873)
Career
He was admitted as a deacon by Rt. Revd. Edward Stanley Bishop of Norwich in January 1844[3] and ordained in 1845 and was a curate in the Church of St Editha, Tamworth in 1849. There was some controversy in 1853 when he was proposed for the St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury by the Edward Herbert, 3rd Earl of Powis but a court case ensued to prevent him from taking the incumbency.[4]
He was appointed a
At
Sydney Pierrepont, 3rd Earl Manvers supported Morse and was Vicar's warden throughout the incumbency. The fabric of the church underwent continual restoration. After 20 years, Morse is thought to have raised and spent £18,000 on the interior alone, re-roofing the aisles and transepts, and redesigning the chancel. Apart from the organ of 1871 (which was removed in 1915) the chancel stalls, bishop's throne, reredos, altar, sedilla and rood-screen are all from this date and still extant.
References
- ^ The London Gazette, 12 November 1886, 5478
- ^ "Morse, Francis (MRS837F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ The Times, Weds Jan 31 1844, page 5
- ^ The Times, Mon Dec 5 1853, page 9
- ^ The Anglican Church in the Industrialised Town, St. Mary's Parish, Nottingham 1770-1884 M.W.Bowen MA, M Phil, University of Nottingham, October 1997