14 Facts About Maurice Harland

Maurice Henry Harland was a 20th-century Anglican bishop, his most significant appointment being Bishop of Durham from 1956 to 1966.

Maurice Harland was one of nine Diocesan bishops in England in the 1950s who had served as combatants in the Great War.

Harland was born on 17 April 1896, the son of the Revd William George and Clara Elizabeth Harland and educated at St Peter's School, York.

Maurice Harland went straight from school in 1914 as a volunteer to the West Yorkshire Regiment soon after the First World War broke out.

Maurice Harland joined the Royal Field Artillery as a lieutenant in France in 1915, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917.

Maurice Harland was a Flying Officer Observer from June 1917, then a Flying Officer and from April 1918 a Lieutenant.

Maurice Harland was on anti-submarine patrol duties in August 1918, and was with No 212 Squadron RAF when he was demobilised in 1919.

Maurice Harland, noted Fisher, was physically strong although not a scholar in the Lincoln tradition.

Maurice Harland was even more surprised to be offered Durham in 1956 since traditionally the post had been filled by a scholar who could comfortably blend with the University.

Maurice Harland wrote again that he had been pressed to accept the post by Archbishop Fisher.

Maurice Harland made no secret of his limitations in a letter to the diocese.

Maurice Harland suffered a curious habit of easily forgetting names which did not endear him to his clergy.

Maurice Harland was alone amongst the episcopate in opposing the abolition of the death penalty for murder in debate in the House of Lords.

Maurice Harland resigned his see in 1966 and retired to West Wittering, living another 20 years before dying on 29 September 1986.