Ex-Archbishop of Brum dies at 78

Nov 5 2007 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

A POPULAR former Archbishop of Birmingham has died, aged 78.

The Most Rev Maurice Noel Leon Couve de Murville, the seventh Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham, died peacefully in St Joseph's Nursing Home in Littlehampton, West Sussex, at 6.15am at Saturday.

The Roman Catholic held the Birmingham position from 1982 to 1999, when he resigned due to ill-health. The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, said: "The Archdiocese of Birmingham will be at prayer for their late Archbishop.

"He was much loved by so many who admired his achievements and his humour. Characteristically he bore his last illness with dignity and calm, with his strong faith and trust in the Lord so much to the fore."

Archbishop Maurice was born in France, and was the the cousin of another Maurice Couve de Murville, who was Prime Minister of France from 1968 to 1969.

One of Archbishop Maurice's first major engagements in the job was to welcome Pope John Paul II to Coventry Airport in 1982 during his visit to Britain.