Maurice Edwards

Maurice Henry Edwards, OBE (17 May 1886 – 26 April 1961) was a British Anglican priest. During World War II, from 1940 to 1944, he was Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force.

The Venerable

Maurice Edwards

OBE
Chaplain-in-Chief, Royal Air Force
ChurchChurch of England
In office1940 to 1944
PredecessorJames Walkey
SuccessorJohn Jagoe
Orders
Ordination1911
Personal details
Birth nameMaurice Henry Edwards
Born(1886-05-17)17 May 1886
Died26 April 1961(1961-04-26) (aged 74)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
EducationRipon Grammar School
Alma materQueens' College, Cambridge

Early life

Edwards was born on 17 May 1886. He was educated at Ripon Grammar School and Queens' College, University of Cambridge.[1] He trained for Holy Orders at Leeds Clergy School, before leaving in 1911 to be ordained in the Church of England.[2]

Career

Edwards was ordained a priest in the Church of England[3] in 1911. He was a curate in Bedale, North Riding, Yorkshire, from 1911 to 1914.[1] He was appointed a Royal Navy chaplain on 6 August 1914.[4] In 1918, he joined the fledgling Royal Air Force Chaplaincy Service. He was granted the relative rank of squadron leader on 1 August 1919,[5] the relative rank of wing commander on 6 August 1929,[6] and the relative rank of group captain on 6 August 1934.[7] On 10 April 1940, he granted the relative rank of air commodore and appointed Chaplain-in- Chief, the most senior chaplain of the Royal Air Force.[8]

From 1944 to 1947, he was based at the Rother Vale Collieries, after which he became rector of Acton Burnell cum Pitchford, a post he held until his retirement in 1953.[1]

He died on 26 April 1961.[9]

Honours

In the 1928 King's Birthday Honours, Edwards was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[10]

He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the King (KHC) on 10 April 1940.[8]

Notes and references
  1. “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
  2. "Edwards, Rev. Maurice Henry, (17 May 1886–26 April 1961), KHC". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U54257. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. Crockford's clerical directory 1947-48 Oxford, OUP, 1947
  4. "No. 28864". The London Gazette. 7 August 1914. p. 6203.
  5. "No. 32017". The London Gazette. 13 August 1920. p. 8410.
  6. "No. 33531". The London Gazette. 3 September 1929. p. 5720.
  7. "No. 34078". The London Gazette. 14 August 1934. p. 5195.
  8. "No. 34831". The London Gazette. 16 April 1940. p. 2248.
  9. "Deaths", The Times, 27 April 1961.
  10. "No. 33390". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1928. p. 3854.
Church of England titles
Preceded by
James Rowland Walkey		 Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF
1940–1944		 Succeeded by
John Arthur Jagoe


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