George Sculthorpe Morris (1812-1889), whilst Vicar of Bretforton, conducted a total of 45 sevices at Badsey between 1848 and 1886. The first was a burial at Badsey in the middle of March 1848 just after the Curate, Henry Hasted Victor, had left and before the Reverend Godfrey Faussett was sent by Christ Church to hold the fort during the interregnum. He then did not conduct any more services until 1856.
George Sculthorpe Morris was born at Elm, Cambridegeshire, on 18th December 1812, the son of George Morris and his wife, Sarah (née Furnival). He was educated at St John’s College, Cambridge.
George Morris married Susan Emma Wandby on 4th July 1836 at St George, Hanover Square, London. Shortly after marriage they travelled to Tasmania and settled at Oatlands, one of the oldest settlements on the island. Two children were born at Oatlands: Elizabeth Wandby (1837-1890) and George Bentham (1839-1903). They then returned to England where two further children were born in Shropshire: John Ignatius Morris (1842-1902) and Andrew Bernard (1845).
In September 1845, Reverend Morris was appointed Vicar of Bretforton, a post which he held until his death.
In the 1850s he published two booklets about Australia: Convicts and Colonies: Thoughts on transportation & colonization, with reference to the islands and main land of Northern Australia, published 1853, and Transportation, considered from home and colonial points of view, published in a series of letters to a Member of Parliament in 1856.
At the time of the 1851 census, Reverend Morris, residing with his family at Bretforton Vicarage, was described as a farmer of 95 acres, employing nine labourers, in addition to being a Vicar.
Susan Morris died at Bretforton in December 1877, Reverend George Morris died in June 1889, and his unmarried daughter, Elizabeth, died the following year; all were buried at Bretforton.
A stained glass window in St Leonard’s Church, Bretforton, bears the inscription: “To the Glory of God and in memory of the Revd G S Morris Vicar 43 years who died June 8th 1889 and of Susan Emma his wife who died December 4th 1877. Erected by subscription.”