Jeremy Morris

Early life

Morris was born on 22 January 1960 to David and Diana Morris. He studied modern history at Balliol College, Oxford, and graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1981. He remained at the University of Oxford to undertake post-graduate study, during which he was a temporary lecturer. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1985.

Early career

Following his university studies, Morris worked in management consultancy and university administration. From 1985 to 1987, he was a scholarship officer for the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Then, from 1987 to 1990, he was a senior administrative officer at the London School of Economics.

Religious life

Morris left his early career in administration to train for the priesthood. He studied theology at Clare College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1992. He trained for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge, and completed a Certificate in Theology for Ministry in 1993.

He was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1993, and as a priest in 1994. He served as a curate at St Mary's Church, Battersea from 1993 to 1996.

Academic career

In 1996, Morris returned to academia as Director of Studies and then Vice-Principal at Westcott House, Cambridge. Later he was a senior associate of the Cambridge Theological Federation and an affiliated lecturer at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. He was Dean and Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge between 2001 and 2010, and director of studies in theology. He was Dean of Chapel at King's College, Cambridge from 2010 to 2014. In addition, he was a fellow of the college and director of studies in theology and religious studies.

Morris's early academic work was in the field of modern British religious history, looking in particular at the impact of urbanization and industrialization on religious change. His first book – based on his doctoral thesis – was Religion and Urban Change: Croydon 1840–1914 (1992), and he continues to write on arguments about secularization. His general academic interests also include modern European church history, Anglican theology and ecclesiology (especially High Anglicanism), and the ecumenical movement. His research currently focuses on the social and doctrinal history of the eucharist in Western Europe since 1800. He is Director of the Archbishop’s Examination in Theology (the ‘Lambeth awards’). He is a former member and Deputy Chair of the Faith and Order Commission of the Church of England, and continues to serve on a number of ecumenical bodies. He has been a visiting lecturer at Cardiff, the Institute of Theology in Tallinn, and the Old Catholic Seminary at the University of Bern. He is also one of the directors of the CRASSH project ‘The Bible and Antiquity in the Nineteenth Century’.

In January 2014, he was elected the 44th Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He took up the appointment in October 2014, in succession to Professor Martin Daunton.

Personal life

Morris is married to Alexandra, and they have three children: Isobel, William and Ursula.

Honours

In June 2017, Morris was awarded The Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Publications