Roger Morris (bishop)

{{Infobox Christian leader

| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend

| name = Roger Morris

| honorific-suffix =

| title = Bishop of Colchester

| image = Installation of The Bishops of Barking and Bradwell (15170495075) (Roger Morris cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Morris in 2014

| church = Church of England

| diocese = Diocese of Chelmsford

| elected =

| term = 25 July 2014–present

| enthroned =

| term_end =

| predecessor = Christopher Morgan

| successor =

| other_post = Archdeacon of Worcester (2008–2014)

| ordination = 1993 (deacon)
1994 (priest)

| consecration = 25 July 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|18|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| buried =

| nationality = British

| religion = Anglican

| residence =

| parents =

| spouse = Sally

| children = 2 daughters

| occupation =

| profession =

| education = Imperial College, London
Trinity College, Cambridge

| alma_mater =

}}

Roger Anthony Brett Morris (born 18 July 1968) is the area Bishop of Colchester in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford. He was previously the Archdeacon of Worcester.[http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/AH/166 Diocesan Web Site]

Early life and education

Morris was born on 18 July 1968 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England.{{cite web |title=Colchester, Area Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Roger Anthony Brett Morris) (born 18 July 1968) |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U247310 |website=Who's Who 2022 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=30 November 2022 |language=en |date=1 December 2021}} He was educated at Chipping Sodbury School and Filton Technical College.{{cite web |title=✠ The Rt Revd Roger Anthony Brett MORRIS |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/people/w13725/✠_The_Rt_Revd_Roger_Anthony_Brett_MORRIS |website=The Church of England Year Book |publisher=Church House Publishing |access-date=30 November 2022}} He studied at Imperial College, London,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/suffragan-bishop-of-colchester-roger-anthony-brett-morris|title = Suffragan Bishop of Colchester: Roger Anthony Brett Morris}} graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1989. From 1990 to 1993, he trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an evangelical Anglican theological college.{{Crockford| surname = Morris | forenames = Morris | id = 15437 | accessed = 30 November 2022}} During this time, he also studied theology at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1992: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree in 2008.

Ordained ministry

Morris was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1993 and as a priest in 1994.Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) {{ISBN|0-7151-8088-6}} After a curacy in Northleach he was the incumbent at Sevenhampton from 1996 to 2003; and then Director of Parish Development and Evangelism for the Diocese of Coventry from then until his archdeacon's appointment."Morris, Ven. Roger Anthony Brett", Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012; online edn, Nov 2012 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U247310, accessed 31 May 2013] From 2008 to 2014, he was Archdeacon of Worcester in the Diocese of Worcester.

On 2 May 2014, Morris was announced as the next Bishop of Colchester, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chelmsford.{{cite web |title=Suffragan Bishop of Colchester: Roger Anthony Brett Morris |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/suffragan-bishop-of-colchester-roger-anthony-brett-morris |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=30 November 2022 |language=en |date=2 May 2014}} He was consecrated as a bishop on 25 July 2014 at St Paul's Cathedral by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.[http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/news/news.php?i583 Diocese of Worcester – Archdeacon of Worcester to become Bishop of Colchester] (Accessed 2 May 2014){{cite web |title=New Bishops of Barking and Colchester consecrated at St Paul's |url=https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/article/new-bishops-of-barking-and-colchester-consecrated-at-st-pauls |website=Diocese of Chelmsford |access-date=30 November 2022 |date=25 July 2014}}

=Views=

In 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Francis |title=Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=Church Times |date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102131648/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |archive-date=2 November 2023}}

Personal life

Morris is married to Sally, a headteacher in a secondary school and a Minister in Secular Employment (MSE). They have two daughters. Morris stage-manages the Canopy Stage (previously The Performance Café) at the annual Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival. His interests include popular music, films, supporting Bristol Rovers and walking the family's three dogs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/suffragan-bishop-of-colchester-roger-anthony-brett-morris|title = Suffragan Bishop of Colchester: Roger Anthony Brett Morris}}

References

Category:1946 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge

Category:Archdeacons of Worcester

Category:Bishops of Colchester

Category:Alumni of Imperial College London

Category:Alumni of Ridley Hall, Cambridge