Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville
Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham
27 June 1929 – 3 November 2007
RIP
Funeral Arrangements
Friday 16 November 2007, Arundel Cathedral
11.15am Reception of the Body
12 Noon Requiem Mass
Monday 19 November 2007, St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
4pm Reception of Body followed by Evening Prayer
Tuesday 20 November 2007, St Chad’s Cathedral
12.15pm Mass
With representatives of Diocesan Secondary Schools
Tuesday 20 November 2007, St Chad’s Cathedral
7pm Vigil Mass
Wednesday 21 November 2007, St Chad’s Cathedral
11.30am Requiem Mass
Followed by interment at St Mary’s College, Oscott
Biography
Maurice Couve de Murville was born on the 27 June 1929, son of Noël Couve de Murville and Marie, daughter of Sir Louis Souchon. He was educated at Downside School, Trinity College, Cambridge and the Institut Catholique, Paris.
Maurice was ordained to the priesthood at Our Lady and St Peter, Leatherhead in 1957. He was first appointed as curate to the parish of St Anselm’s, Dartford (1957-1960) then to St Joseph’s, Brighton (1960-1961) in the same role. In 1961 he was transferred to the neighbouring parish of St Francis, Moulescoomb as priest-in-charge (1961-1964) combining this with the role of chaplain to Sussex University (1961-1977). In 1977 he became the chaplain of the University of Cambridge which lasted until his appointment and consecration as Archbishop of Birmingham in 1982.
As a bishop, he has published a number of works including Catholic Cambridge (with Philip Jenkins) in 1983, John Milner 1752-1826 in 1986 and The Man Who Founded California: Junipero Serra in 2000.
Archbishop Maurice was the Principal Chaplain of the Order of Malta, (British Association) from 1987 until 1991 and again from 2001 until his death in 2007.
He retired from the Diocese of Birmingham in 1999 and moved back to his home Diocese of Arundel & Brighton. Earlier this year he celebrated his 25th Anniversary of his Episcopate back in St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham and then his 50th Anniversary of Priesthood here in Arundel Cathedral in June. He died peacefully in St Joseph’s Convent, Littlehampton on the morning of 3 November after a short illness.
