|
Morris Gelsthorpe | |
|---|---|
| Bishop in the Sudan | |
Bishop Gelsthorpe, 1945
| |
| Diocese | Diocese of the Sudan |
| In office | 1945 to 1952 |
| Other post(s) | Assistant Bishop of Southwell (1952–1968) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1920 by Hensley Henson |
| Consecration | 1933 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alfred Morris Gelsthorpe 26 February 1892 |
| Died | 22 August 1968(1968-08-22) (aged 76) |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | The King's School, Canterbury |
| Alma mater | Hatfield College, Durham |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Artists Rifles Durham Light Infantry Machine Gun Corps |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
Alfred Morris Gelsthorpe, DSO (26 February 1892 – 22 August 1968) was an English Anglican bishop and missionary. Known popularly as 'Gelly', he was the first Bishop in the Sudan.[1][2]
He was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and matriculated to Hatfield College, Durham (part of Durham University) as an arts student in October 1911.[3][4] He was part of the same Hatfield cohort as Percy Fewtrell, later to become Dean of Hobart.[4]
In September 1914, not long after the outbreak of the First World War, Gelsthorpe, who had been an active member of the Durham University Officers' Training Corps in his time as a student, enlisted initially as a regular soldier in the Artists Rifles, but then received a commission the following month and transferred to the 8th battalion of the Durham Light Infantryassecond lieutenant.[5][6]
He served on the Western Front in France, May 1915–September 1916, and April–September 1917; then in Mesopotamia, September 1917–January 1919.[5] He received the Distinguished Service Order on attachment to the Machine Gun Corps and was twice mentioned in despatches.[5] He finished the war with the rank of lieutenant colonel, despite his youthfulness.[1]
After returning from the war, he returned to Durham University to study theology and was awarded a Licentiate of Theology (LTh).[5] He was made a deacon in the Church of England in 1919, and was ordained as a priest in by the new Bishop of Durham, Hensley Henson, in 1920.[7]
Gelsthorpe began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at St Gabriel’s, Sunderland. In 1923 he became a CMS Missionary and moved to AwkainColonial Nigeria.[8] A popular minister in Sunderland, before his departure he received the gift of a watch from the committee of Sunderland Rugby Club.[1]
He was Principal of the Staff Training College for African Agents in Awka from 1926 to 1933; Assistant Bishop to the Bishop on the Niger from 1933 to 1938, and Assistant Bishop to the Bishop of Egypt from 1938 to 1945.[9][8] He was Bishop in the Sudan from 1945 to 1952; RectorofBingham, Nottinghamshire from November 1952 to 1963, and an Assistant Bishop of Southwell from November 1952 'til death.[10][11][12]
Gelsthorpe claimed to have a 'special interest' in all athletics. He was particularly active in rugby and competed for Blackheath Rugby Club as a youth, later on representing Durham County during his university studies.[5]
In 1949 he married Dr Elfrida Whidborne of the Church Missionary Society Hospital in Omdurman.[13]
