THE
P RTAL
April 2016
Page 20
Fr Ivor Morris R.I.P.
Fr Ed Tomlinson
Iserved my
Anglican curacy at St Thomas of Canterbury in Brentwood,
Essex. Anglo-Catholic clergy in the diocese supported me in those early days
of ministry. We belonged to the Society of the Holy Cross and met for lunch and
discussion. One of the main aims of SSC was to work and pray for unity with
Rome. Fr Ivor Morris was also a member, having served a curacy under my training
incumbent, Fr Bob White. Later, I would cover services for Fr Ivor and was invited
to preach for him occasionally. He would always share lunch with me, as hospitality was important to him.
He was a quiet man, even shy; a gentle pastor whose kindness was a testament to his virtue.
Fr Ivor found that being a celibate priest within a
church where most clergy are married could be lonely.
He spoke often about the battles he faced being a black
clergyman in a very white and middle class Church of
England. Families of the deceased sometimes refused
to allow him to take funerals. These experiences
scarred him but never made him bitter. He was grateful
to those who befriended him and treated him kindly.
Father Ivor, Fr. Bob and I left the Church of England
in 2011, becoming members of the Ordinariate. So
again we came together; this time for formation at
Allen Hall. Despite the upheaval and uncertainty of
those days, he was still able to laugh and smile. I was
fond of him.
Sadly, Fr Ivor was diagnosed with in-operable brain
cancer. After a brave fight against the illness he died on
March 1st, in the presence of his beloved sister. He will
be missed. Of your goodness pray for his soul.
Fr David Skeoch R.I.P.
Lis Bennison
Fr David
served as the Priest of the Ipswich Ordinariate Group based at
Holy Family and St Michael, Kesgrave, Ipswich. The group was formed shortly
after the founding of the Ordinariate, welcoming those from north Essex, Suffolk
and Norfolk, especially from St Mary at the Elms, Ipswich and St James, Clacton
on Sea. Fr David worked tirelessly for the Ordinariate, as well as becoming an
invaluable member of the wider team of priests working from St Mary’s Catholic
Church in Ipswich.
He was educated at Christ Church Oxford and
worked for a time as a history teacher. Following
ordination as an Anglican priest he served a curacy at
St Mary’s, Bourne Street, was then chaplain to Bishop
Graham Leonard both in Truro and London and
had a long ministry as Vicar of St Gabriel’s, Pimlico.
Although he had retired from the Anglican priesthood
before becoming an Ordinariate priest, he undertook
a virtually full time role in Ipswich and his loss will be
keenly felt.
laughter afterwards. It
was interesting and
informative to talk about
our experiences on our journeys into the Catholic
faith since we came from such a widespread area.
Fr David held the group together and we enjoyed
several instances of his hospitality when he would cook
for us and regale us with anecdotes from his fascinating
life. His house was filled with treasures from a lifetime
spent serving our Lord in various capacit Y\