A leading British ecumenical figure, the Revd Dr Philip Morgan, 75, died on Monday 17 October. His death followed a heart attack after a recent stroke.
Morgan had been the General Secretary of the British Council of Churches (BCC) from 1980 to 1990. [The British Council of Churches (BCC) was reformed into the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland (CCBI) in September 1990. In March 1999 the CCBI was renamed Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.]During his tenure as General Secretary, Morgan led the BCC through the process that replaced a largely Protestant Council of Churches with a new broader way of working – “Churches together”.
Churches Together in Britain Ireland (CTBI) is the body that eventually emerged from that process. Today, CTBI unites Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions, and 47 associated organisations.
“Philip Morgan was one of the key figures in the ecumenical movement in the late twentieth century,” said Dr David Goodbourn, the present General Secretary of CTBI. “His contribution was enormous, not least in driving forward the Inter Church Process that created the ecumenical arrangements we have now. We thank God for his life, and for all that he achieved.”
Revd John Reardon, General Secretary from 1990 - 1999, said: “The most important contribution he made during the 1980s was that he was instrumental in moving the British Council of Churches into a position where it became possible for the Roman Catholics to join the new instrument. The Inter Church Process wouldn’t have happened without him. He built on the relationship with the Catholics following the visit to Britain and Ireland of Pope John Paul 11.
“He took the courageous decision to end the life of the BCC in August 1990, before it was clear what would replace it. It was risky but he held to it, in spite of the tension that caused. That made the way clear for a new beginning. He focused on bringing in the Catholics and the Black-led Churches.
“Since the 1990s there has been an increase and deepening in local ecumenism. The new instruments have made that possible.”His contribution was enormous, not least in driving forward the Inter Church Process that created the ecumenical arrangements we have now. We thank God for his life, and for all that he achieved.
Dr David Goodbourn, General Secretary CTBI
The Revd Noel Davies, former General Secretary of Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales) said: “Philip never forgot his Welsh roots. His strong links with the Merthyr area, both because of family origins and because his first ministry was within the Churches of Christ in the Merthyr area, meant that he had an instinctive understanding of Wales, its people and its churches. He had a natural empathy with our search for deeper unity and an enthusiastic commitment to enabling us to play our fullest role in the wider ecumenical movement in Britain and Ireland and worldwide.’
Philip Morgan was ordained minister in 1953 in the Churches of Christ. He served in South Wales district 1952 to 1958; Avery Hill 1958 to 1962; Saffron Lane and South Wigston, Leicester 1962 to 1966; Assistant General Secretary Churches of Christ and Saffron Lane 1966 to 1967; General Secretary Churches of Christ 1967 to 1980; General Secretary: British Council of Churches 1980 to 1990; Moderator of General Assembly of United Reformed Church 1984 to 1985; Frognal 1990 to 1995, when he retired from full-time ministry.
