F. D. Maurice was an Anglican Clergymen, a polific auther and a professed Christian Socialist who differed profoundly from his opponents on either flank. He parted with the socialists of his day by his insistence on a religious base to social action. But he was widely distrusted by many in the church for having anything to do with socialism at all. He called for radical, non-violent reform through the renewal of faith, and saw worship and prayer as the source of energy for the church’s mission.

The son of a Unitarian minister. His early life was marked by angry family debates on religion, at 18 he left home.

• 1823: He entered Trinity College, Cambridge, to study law, but as a non-Anglican he was debarred from formal graduation and from taking up a college fellowship. He moved to London and in 1830, concluded that only a national church could provide the best spiritual renewal in society. He was then baptised and entered Exeter College, Oxford.
• 1834-1836: He was Ordained, his first clerical assignment, was an assistant curacy in Bubbenhall, Warwickshire.
• 1836-1860: He was appointed chaplain of Guy's Hospital, took up residence and "lectured the students on moral philosophy". He also served as editor of the Educational Magazine during its entire 1839–1841 existence. He argued that "the school system should not be transferred from the church to the state."
• 1840: Maurice was elected professor of English literature and history at King's College, London.
• 1846: The college added a theological department, and he became a professor there. The same year beomg elected chaplain of Lincoln's Inn, so he resigned the chaplaincy at Guy's Hospital.
• 1845-1853: Maurice was Boyle lecturer (nominated by the Archbishop of York), and the Warburton lecturer (nominated by Archbishop of Canterbury).
• 1848: He founded Queens College for women.
• 1854: He founded the Working Men's College.
• 1860: He was appointed to St Peter’s Chapel, Vere Street.
• 1866: He became professor of moral theology at Cambridge and incumbent of St Edward’s, Cambridge.

Maurice's novel “Eustace Conway”, (1834) and was praised by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His main theme from then on was moral and metaphysical philosophy. His is most significant work, 'The Kingdom of Christ' (1838) brought him into conflict with accepted theological opinions. For Maurice. the signs of the kingdom are "the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, to which must be added the creeds, the liturgy, the episcopate, and the scriptures — all the marks of catholicity as exemplified in the Church of England. The book was met with criticism which lasted throughout his career. Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy, 2 vols in 1871–1872', was published the year he died.

By his ideals of Christian Socialism he sought to arouse the conscience of church people and to gain their support and help for the material and spiritual welfare of working people. He became highly respected for the nobility of his character and his dedicated service to others.

BORN: 29 August 1805, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

DIED: 1 April 1872, London, England, U.K.