Francis Morse

Francis Morse, M.A. born 18 May 1818, died 18 September 1886 was a priest in the Church of England.

Family

Francis Morse was the son of Thomas Morse and Elizabeth of Blundeston, Norfolk. He was educated at Cambridge University.

He married Clarissa Catharine Gedge on 3 January 1849 in St. Philip's Church, Birmingham, (now St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham).

Career

He was ordained in 1845 and was a curate in Tamworth in 1849. He was appointed a perpetual curate of St. John's Church, Ladywood, Birmingham in 1854. On 23 December 1864 he became Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, a position he held until 1884. He was also a Prebendary of Lincoln from 1867 - 1884. On his retirement he was made Canon of Southwell Minster. ["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]

At St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, Francis Morse introduced a modern style of management. He printed annual reports and Vestry minutes start with his arrival. The church supported both The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Church Missionary Society.

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.

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