Morris Gelsthorpe

Alfred Morris Gelsthorpe (26 February 189222 August 1968) was an English Anglican bishop and missionary who served as the first Bishop in the Sudan.

Early life 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.

Military service 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 Infantry as second lieutenant.

He served on the Western Front in France, May 1915–September 1916, and April–September 1917; then in Mesopotamia, September 1917–January 1919. A popular minister in Sunderland, before his departure he received the gift of a watch from the committee of Sunderland Rugby Club.

Personal 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 representing Durham County during his university studies.