Rare indeed was it for Fr Maurus to be late for any engagement. Whether he were catching a train, taking a class or going to say Mass he seemed always to be ready ten minutes before the appointed time. So with his final appointment - half past three on the morning of All Souls' Day - he was well prepared and ready in advance. The manner of his death was such as every Catholic must hope and pray for. For several months growing physical weakness had inflicted on him severe trials. These he accepted cheerfully and calmly as but the friendly warning of the Master he had loved and served so well. On 31st October he had taught his two Latin classes as usual and had retired to bed resolved to say Mass the following day. Early on the morning of All Saints' Day he had a heart attack. He was fully conscious when he received Viaticum and Extreme Unction. Gradually during the day he lapsed into unconsciousness, though not unaware of the accompaniment of prayers from his brethren, from the Gilling staff and from the boys - prayers which, in his humility, he felt he needed so much. He was in his eighty-seventh year.
Alexander Maurus Powell was born at Waterloo, Lancashire, on 27th December 1872. He came to Ampleforth as a boy in 1887. Scholastically his career in the school was undistinguished though he early showed an appetite for hard work and thoroughness and revealed his innate artistic talent. He made his mark on the playing fields. His records for the half-mile and high jump remained unbroken for over thirty years. As a soccer player he is remembered as a most competent centre-forward, short of stature but thick-set, very determined and with a characteristic sense of the value of team work. By comparison with modern conditions the regime at Ampleforth in the eighteen eighties may seem spartan and harsh but Fr Maurus always looked back on those days with affection and certainly it was as a schoolboy that he first acquired the love of Ampleforth which continued to grow in intensity for the rest of his life.
After leaving the College Alexander Powell spent four years in the world and during this time he crossed the Atlantic to visit a relative in Canada. In February 1894 he entered the Novitiate at Belmont Abbey, receiving the habit from Prior Raynal. In June 1895 Bishop Hedley conferred Minor Orders on him. He returned to Ampleforth to make his Solemn Vows to Prior Smith in March 1898. Then began his quite remarkable career as a schoolmaster which was only to end two days before his death sixty-one years later.
The seal was set upon his vocation on 10th March 1901 when Fr Maurus was ordained priest by Bishop Lacy of Middlesbrough. Though for a period he was Master of Ceremonies - a post he filled with characteristic efficiency - neither the elaborations nor the refinements of ceremonial made any natural appeal to him. For the simplicity of the Sacrifice of the Mass he had intense devotion and one of his hardest trials in his last few months was to be unable to offer Mass every day.
From 1898 until 1916 Fr Maurus played a very active part in the life of the College. He bore a heavy burden of teaching, chiefly of Latin and Greek, and he also taught Art and Carpentry. For a considerable period he was in charge of theatrical productions and when the theatre was built the design of the stage was carried out according to his specifications. He took an active part in the running of the school games. From 1906 to 1909 he served the Mission at Helmsley. Blessed with robust health his energy was boundless. He found recreation in covering miles on a bicycle to fish at Arden, at Fosse or in the Rye. With his great energy and orderly mind he seemed to find time for everything and yet no one of his varied interests was ever allowed to interfere with a more important duty. The time-table of those days allowed to junior monks a spare hour before breakfast, after morning office was finished. Br Maurus employed the hour in making picture frames.
As a teacher of Latin and Greek to small boys Fr Maurus was, undoubtedly a genius. His pupils readily assumed his own enthusiasm, energy, thoroughness. He always demanded and invariably obtained a high standard of scholarship. It was remarkable how his enthusiasm, his youthfulness and his flexibility of mind remained with him to the end. His classes were always carefully prepared and planned and no master ever fitted more into a forty-minute class. He was always searching for new ways of 'putting-across' what he had to teach. Many are the boys who have been set on the path to classical scholarships by him. Many more are those who learned a satisfaction in work well done.
In 1909 Abbot Smith chose Fr Maurus as Sub-Prior, a post he held for three years. Possibly this was a recognition of the respect he had won in the eyes of the community for his meticulous monastic observance and for his influence as the ideal community man. For all his energy and varied interests none knew better than he that the whole motive force and inspiration of his work derived from his life as a monk and a priest. For only two comparatively short periods in his long life did he hold a position of authority. A certain timidity in his character perhaps made him shy of its responsibility and reluctant to make decisions. Yet there could never be any compromise with duty and a reprimand from him, although couched in the gentlest and most understanding terms, carried the force of rock-like firmness.
When in September 1916 the new Preparatory School, in what is now the junior House building, was opened, Fr Maurus was chosen to go there as assistant to the Headmaster, Fr Basil Mawson. His remarkable influence for good over young boys was here given wider scope and out of it grew many lifelong friendships. Contact with the parents and relations of the boys brought an ever-widening circle of friends, attracted and held by his patent sincerity and simplicity, his unfailing cheerfulness and his range of interests and accomplishments. Of the latter the most evident was his talent as a draughtsman and water-colour artist. Much against his better judgement he was, on one occasion, persuaded by a distinguished portrait painter to submit three paintings to the Royal Academy. It was no disappointment to him to learn that they had been rejected. For him the artistic talent was merely something given him by God to be used to the best of his ability. Many former pupils of the old Preparatory School will remember with pleasure the Aviary he built and stocked with a wide variety of exotic birds. Later at Gilling Castle when the Aviary became impracticable his interest shifted to the gardens which, under his direction, were laid out in their present form. He had a wide knowledge as well as a deep love of flowers, shrubs and trees.
In 1930 Fr Maurus came with the Preparatory School to Gilling Castle, and in September 1934 he was appointed to succeed Fr Basil as Headmaster. Inevitably the move across the valley, entailing a physical separation from the College, implied some change in character in the Preparatory School. The imprint of the new character was undoubtedly given by Fr Maurus during his fourteen years as Headmaster. He had served a long apprenticeship and he had learned much from experience. He had proved a loyal subordinate and no one could have guessed how many were the practices and policies of which he had disapproved but to which he had submitted without a murmur. Put very simply his theory of education was that you get the best out of boys if they are happy and happiness in a school is quite compatible with hard work and sound discipline. Fr Maurus made Gilling a happy school. Happiness flowed from his own personality and was reflected both in the members of his staff whom he treated with confidence and consideration, and in the boys who rejoiced in it. During this period Fr Maurus received great help and encouragement from Fr Paul Nevill, who relieved him of much of the anxiety he might otherwise have felt at making decisions.
In April 1948 at the age of seventy-six Fr Maurus was relieved of the post of Headmaster. Many assumed that now he would slide into graceful and well-earned retirement, whereas in fact he had before him another eleven years of active and valuable work as an assistant master at Gilling. He asked for more classes to teach and threw himself into the work with renewed zest. Never were his humility and loyalty more in evidence. Generous with his advice when it was sought, it was never thrust upon one. Every innovation he welcomed and encouraged no matter what might have been his own feelings about it. As the years went by he became physically more handicapped first by arthritis and then by chronic bronchitis. But his zeal and ability for teaching never flagged though often the effort must have been costly. His only anxiety was lest in his failing strength he should become a burden to others. During his last year he once remarked that his wish was that he might be allowed to work to the end so that he could in some measure repay to Ampleforth the debt he owed it for all it had done for him. It gave him much unaffected pleasure when in 1951 Ampleforth showed recognition of his work by appointing him Cathedral Prior of Chester.
Though the last forty years of his life were lived outside the Monastery the monastic spirit permeated his whole life. One who came to know him well in his last years remarked that for her Fr Maurus typified the 'true monk'. After a Retreat Conference on the virtue of Simplicity the late Monsignor Knox was further questioned on what he meant. 'Go across to Gilling', he replied, 'and see Fr Maurus. He is what I mean by Simplicity.' To his brethren who lived close to him he was a constant source of rejuvenating encouragement.
To his sister we offer our deepest sympathy. May God give his soul the rest and peace he so much desired.
ALEXANDER MAURUS POWELL 2 November 1959
1872 27 Dec Born Waterloo Lancs
1887- Educ Ampleforth
1894 2 Feb Habit at Belmont
1901 10 Mar Priest
Taught at Ampleforth
1906-09 Served Helmsley
1909 Jul to Sep 1912 Sub prior
1916 Sep In Prep School as Assistant
1934 Sep Head Master
1948 Apr Returned to Assistant Master-ship for remainder of his life
1951 7 Mar Nominated Cathedral Prior of Chester
1959 2 Nov Died in Gilling Castle
Buried at Ampleforth