On this day a century ago, Maurice Taylor was born. He was ordained a priest in Rome on 2nd July 1950 and served in St Bartholomew’s, Coatbridge and St Bernadette’s, Motherwell, completing doctoral studies between these appointments at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
After serving on the seminary staff of St Peter’s College, Cardross, in the summer of 1965, Fr Taylor was made Rector of the Royal Scots College, Valladolid. Sensitive to the traditions of the Scots College, his love of its history led him to publish “The Scots College in Spain”: a fulsome account, completed in 1971, detailing the College’s story since its foundation in Madrid in 1627 and contributing significantly to the body of written Scottish Catholic History.
Although trained as a priest in Rome, Maurice Taylor became a “Spaniard”. He loved Spain and all things Spanish to the end of his days and encouraged the seminarians in his care and many others to know the Spanish people and to delve into their history, geography, culture, fiestas, language and, not least, its own expression of Catholic faith, notably its Holy Week processions.
After serving in Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride from 1974-1981, Mgr Taylor was telephoned on 1st April 1981 (did he think it was a prank?) by the Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain, Archbishop Bruno Heim, to learn of his appointment as Bishop of Galloway, a ministry fulfilled with dedication.
In this diocese, Bishop Taylor visited parishes routinely every weekend through the year. His pastoral visits to parishes were real visitations and, as well as presiding and preaching at all Masses, he would come in time to visit the school on a Friday, the sick or apostolic movements on a Saturday and any other activity which could be arranged. He also had the skill of remembering both faces and names, even decades later. Once a year he paid a visit to each Catholic school in the diocese, going to each classroom as well as meeting with the head teacher and staff. Monsignor Duffy once remarked with admiration and some amazement that there was “not a single child in the Diocese who didn’t have Bishop Maurice’s autograph” on their hymn book or missal.
Every two years there was a diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. In the alternate years, Bishop Taylor led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a place for which he had great affection. Over the years, he built up friendships not only with the many pilgrims who accompanied him but with the people who lived there with little hope of peace, showing solidarity with them in the challenges that they faced.
The bishops of Galloway see themselves as successors of St Ninian and there is widespread pride among the people on account of the renown of the saint and the antiquity of the local church. Bishop Taylor always enjoyed leading the annual pilgrimage to Whithorn and St Ninian’s Cave on the last Sunday of August.
When he retired in 2004, he acquired the title of Emeritus Bishop. With typical self-deprecating humour he told people that when he looked up “emeritus” in the dictionary he found that it said: “of no further use”! Of course, this was never going to be a reality for Bishop Maurice. In retirement he continued to celebrate Masses throughout the diocese, especially to allow priests to take a holiday, and he played a regular role in worship in the parishes in Ayr where he lived. He wrote several books on a variety of topics and gave talks and retreats.
On this centenary of his birth, may we express true gratitude for Bishop Maurice Taylor. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.