Maurice Edwards

The Venerable Maurice Henry Edwards, OBE, MA (17 May 1886 – 26 April 1961) was an eminent Anglican priest in the second half of the twentieth century.

Early life
Edwards was born on 17 May 1886, he was educated at Ripon Grammar School and Queens' College, University of Cambridge.

Career
Edwards was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1911. He served as Curate at Bedale, North Riding, Yorkshire, from 1911 to 1914.

He was appointed a Royal Navy chaplain on 6 August 1914. In 1918, he joined the fledgling Royal Air Force Chaplaincy Service. He was granted the relative rank of squadron leader on 1 August 1919, the relative rank of Wing Commander on 6 August 1929, and the relative rank of Group Captain on 6 August 1934. On 10 April 1940, he granted the relative rank of Air Commodore and appointed Chaplain-in- Chief, the most senior chaplain of the Royal Air Force.

From 1944 to 1947, he was based at the Rother Vale Collieries, after which he became Rector of Acton Burnell cum Pitchford, a post he held until his retirement in 1953.

He died on 26 April 1961.

Honours
In the 1928 King's Birthday Honours, Edwards was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

He was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the King (KHC) on 10 April 1940.