Morris Maddocks

Morris Henry St John Maddocks (28 April 1928 – 19 January 2008) was a bishop in the Church of England.

He was a leading proponent of healing ministry and an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Chichester from 1987. He died on 19 January 2008.

Morris served in parishes in London and York before being consecrated as a bishop and founding the Acorn Christian Healing Trust, now the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, with his wife Anne. He was the author of The Christian Healing Ministry, published in 1981.

He married Anne Sheail at Chichester Cathedral, where she was the assistant organist, on 22 September 1955. Anne was such a support in her husband's work that some priests would pray for "Morris and Anne, our Bishop."

In 1972, Morris was appointed the suffragan Bishop of Selby, where he remained until 1983. He was known during this time for, among other things, ministering in the Selby coalfields.

His experience in the church began when five laypeople visited him at St Martin's, Scarborough, in 1963 and together they prayed for the healing of the sick. His key understanding of Christian healing was, "Jesus Christ meeting you at the point of your deepest need."

In 1983, Morris was appointed as assistant bishop to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, a post he held up to 1987. – plus annual funding for the work of Christian healing. This saw the genesis of the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation. The foundation, co-founded by Morris, now operates remotely across the UK with Acorn Christian Healing Hubs.

After his retirement, the couple returned to Chichester, living in the cathedral's close and attending cathedral worship every day.

Anne died in October 2006 after a marriage of 51 years. The couple had no children. Bishop Morris continued to live in Canon Lane, and died in Southampton Hospital after complications following major heart surgery.

In paying tribute to his life and work, Bishop John William Hind, Bishop of Chichester commented:

The Dean of Chichester, the Very Revd Nicholas Frayling, added:

Morris's funeral took place at Chichester Cathedral on 1 February 2008.