John Morrow (peace activist)
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. John Morrow was a Presbyterian minister and peace activist in Northern Ireland
. He was integral in the 1965 founding of the Corrymeela Community
, a Christian group committed to promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He succeeded Corrymeela's founder Ray Davey as the leader of the community in 1980 and served as its leader until 1993, providing it with a sense of cohesion and direction in its work of ecumenical Christian leadership and help for families during the Troubles.
, on the outskirts of Belfast
. He was educated at Campbell College
grammar school and then at Queen's University, where he took primary and master's degrees in agriculture. He then decided to become a minister and completed his theological training at New College Edinburgh
and at the former Assembly's College, now Union Theological College
.
, where he served as minister and pursued a career in the difficult and often controversial area of ecumenical relations.
From 1958 to 1971, he was a member of the Iona Community
, which greatly shaped his philosophy and Christian witness.
, a Christian group committed to promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He served as the community's leader from 1980 - 1994, taking over the role from Corrymeela founder Ray Davey. He was involved with human rights issues, such as playing a role in the foundation of the Committee for the Administration of Justice, campaigning for the UDR Four
, working as a member of the Faith and Politics Group, and helping with many other campaigns for justice on behalf of those affected by the Troubles. He also developed important links with church figures in the Netherlands
, including the controversial Roel Kaptein, who shared with Corrymeela some of the stimulating philosophy of the noted critic and Bible commentator, René Girard
.
During the darkest days of the Troubles, Morrow regularly arranged sanctuary for families being intimidated by paramilitary organisations on both sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland. As Corrymeela's leader, Morrow promoted dialogue with the main political parties and met regularly with parties connected to paramilitary organisations, including Provisional Sinn Féin
and the Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party; the political wings of the Irish Republican Army
and the Ulster Defence Association
respectively.
. In 1975, he became the Presbyterian chaplain at Queen's University, where Ray Davey had been a founding predecessor. Morrow quickly demonstrated his own breadth of vision as chaplain, as well as his sturdy independence and leadership qualities. He was described by his students as having inspired them to take the vision of better relationships and understanding into the wider world.
As Presbyterian Chaplain at Queens University, he encouraged the movement known as The Peace People, under the leadership of Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan
.
as a lecturer and Northern Ireland co-ordinator. He published his memoir, entitled On the Road of Reconciliation: A Brief Memoir, in 2004.
Morrow received an honorary doctorate
from the University of Ulster
in 2006.
, Alison, and Neil. John died in his sleep on 1 January 2009.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He was integral in the 1965 founding of the Corrymeela Community
Corrymeela Community
The Corrymeela Community is a Christian community whose objective is the promotion of reconciliation and peace-building through the healing of social, religious, and political divisions in Northern Ireland...
, a Christian group committed to promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He succeeded Corrymeela's founder Ray Davey as the leader of the community in 1980 and served as its leader until 1993, providing it with a sense of cohesion and direction in its work of ecumenical Christian leadership and help for families during the Troubles.
Education
Morrow grew up on a dairy farm near DundonaldDundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
, on the outskirts of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He was educated at Campbell College
Campbell College
Campbell College is a Voluntary Grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The College educates boys from ages 11–18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.The school occupies...
grammar school and then at Queen's University, where he took primary and master's degrees in agriculture. He then decided to become a minister and completed his theological training at New College Edinburgh
New College, Edinburgh
New College was opened in 1846 as a college of the Free Church of Scotland, later of the United Free Church of Scotland, and from the 1930s has been the home of the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh...
and at the former Assembly's College, now Union Theological College
Union Theological College
Union Theological College is the theological college for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and is situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was established in 1853 as Assembly's College. The building served as the location for the early Northern Ireland Parliaments.The college offers a full range...
.
Early career
Morrow's first charge was at Seymour Hill Presbyterian Church near LisburnLisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, where he served as minister and pursued a career in the difficult and often controversial area of ecumenical relations.
From 1958 to 1971, he was a member of the Iona Community
Iona Community
The Iona Community, founded in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod, is an ecumenical Christian community of men and women from different walks of life and different traditions in the Christian church....
, which greatly shaped his philosophy and Christian witness.
Leader of Corrymeela
In 1965, Morrow was a founding member of the Corrymeela CommunityCorrymeela Community
The Corrymeela Community is a Christian community whose objective is the promotion of reconciliation and peace-building through the healing of social, religious, and political divisions in Northern Ireland...
, a Christian group committed to promoting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He served as the community's leader from 1980 - 1994, taking over the role from Corrymeela founder Ray Davey. He was involved with human rights issues, such as playing a role in the foundation of the Committee for the Administration of Justice, campaigning for the UDR Four
UDR Four
The UDR Four were four members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who were convicted of the murder of Adrian Carroll in 1983. Adrian Carroll was the brother of the Sinn Féin councillor Tommy Carroll.Three of the UDR soldiers were acquitted on appeal in 1992...
, working as a member of the Faith and Politics Group, and helping with many other campaigns for justice on behalf of those affected by the Troubles. He also developed important links with church figures in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, including the controversial Roel Kaptein, who shared with Corrymeela some of the stimulating philosophy of the noted critic and Bible commentator, René Girard
René Girard
René Girard is a French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science. His work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy...
.
During the darkest days of the Troubles, Morrow regularly arranged sanctuary for families being intimidated by paramilitary organisations on both sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland. As Corrymeela's leader, Morrow promoted dialogue with the main political parties and met regularly with parties connected to paramilitary organisations, including Provisional Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
and the Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party; the political wings of the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
and the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
respectively.
University chaplain
Morrow also served as university chaplain to overseas students in Glasgow from 1967. From 1971, he was a student chaplain in Dublin where he helped to establish the Glencree Centre for Peace and ReconciliationGlencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is a non-governmental charitable organization located in Republic of Ireland. Its goal is to promote peace and reconciliation, especially as a response to the Troubles and its aftermath....
. In 1975, he became the Presbyterian chaplain at Queen's University, where Ray Davey had been a founding predecessor. Morrow quickly demonstrated his own breadth of vision as chaplain, as well as his sturdy independence and leadership qualities. He was described by his students as having inspired them to take the vision of better relationships and understanding into the wider world.
As Presbyterian Chaplain at Queens University, he encouraged the movement known as The Peace People, under the leadership of Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan
Mairead Corrigan
Mairead Maguire , also known as Mairead Corrigan Maguire and formerly as Mairéad Corrigan, is a Northern Irish peace activist. She co-founded, with Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown, the Community of Peace People, an organisation dedicated to encouraging a peaceful resolution of the Troubles in...
.
Later work
After his time at Corrymeela, Morrow worked in association with the Irish School of EcumenicsIrish School of Ecumenics
The Irish School of Ecumenics is a new discipline within an aspirant School at Trinity College Dublin, and existed as an independent entity until negotiating admission to Trinity College about a decade ago. The ISE is dedicated to the promotion of ecumenism, religious reconciliation and interfaith...
as a lecturer and Northern Ireland co-ordinator. He published his memoir, entitled On the Road of Reconciliation: A Brief Memoir, in 2004.
Morrow received an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
in 2006.
Personal life
Morrow married Shirley Duncan on 29 December 1959; Shirley died on 8 July 2004. The couple had four children; Duncan, PhilipPhilip Morrow
Philip Morrow is a Northern Irish television producer. In 1999, he founded Wild Rover Productions, a television production company best known for producing the hidden-camera show Just for Laughs along with various entertainment, comedy, and pop-factual TV programmes...
, Alison, and Neil. John died in his sleep on 1 January 2009.
Books
- The Captivity of the Irish Churches (1974)
- Confessions of Prionsias O’Toole (1977)
- The Essex Factor (1982)
- Journey of Hope: Sources of the Corrymeela Vision (1995)
- Belfast: Faith in the City (contributor) (2001)
- On the Road of Reconciliation: A Brief Memoir (2004)