Thomas Ralph Morton was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire on 18 August 1900 . His father, Robert Morton, was an electrical engineer. Prior to attending university, Thomas was a student at Greenock Academy. Thomas attended the University of Glasgow from 1917-1921 , taking classes in Latin, French and History in his first year; English and Mathematics in his second, and English (Higher), Moral Philosophy and British History in his third year. He was awarded a certificate of distinction for his examination result in Latin in 1918 and a first class certificate in English in 1919. He graduated with an MA in June 1920 , but returned the following year to take classes in English (Honours) and Scots History and Literature (Honours). He then studied theology at the Glasgow College of the United Free Church of Scotland, Glasgow, from 1922-1925 , and was subsequently invited to become a Presbyterian Church of Ireland missionary in Manchuria, China, from 1925-1937. On his return, he worked briefly as a Presbyterian minister in Cambridge before becoming involved with the Iona Community, firstly as warden of the Iona Community House in Glasgow (1943-1950) and later as deputy leader of the community (1950-1967). In 1963 , Thomas was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Glasgow . He died in 1977 .
From the guide to the Papers of Thomas Ralph Morton, 1900-1977, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1919-1920, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
