John Williams (bishop of Connecticut)
John Williams (August 30, 1817 – February 7, 1899) was the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut and eleventh presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
John Williams | |
|---|---|
| 11th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| In office | 1887–1889 |
| Predecessor | Alfred Lee |
| Successor | Thomas M. Clark |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Connecticut (1865–1899) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 26, 1841 by Thomas Church Brownell |
| Consecration | October 21, 1851 by Thomas Church Brownell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1817 |
| Died | February 7, 1899 (aged 81) Middletown, Connecticut, United States |
| Buried | Indian Hill Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Ephraim Williams & Emily Trowbridge |
| Previous post(s) | Assistant Bishop of Connecticut (1851-1865) |
Early life edit
Williams was born at Deerfield, Massachusetts, the son of Ephraim Williams and Emily (Trowbridge) Williams.[1] He was educated at Deerfield Academy, Harvard and at Trinity College, Hartford, where he graduated in 1835.[2] Although his parents were Unitarian, Williams's time at Harvard convinced him to join the Protestant Episcopal Church.[3] He was ordained deacon in 1838 and priest in 1841.[2] Williams held the rectorship of St. George's Church, Schenectady, New York, from 1842 to 1848, after which he became president of Trinity College, and at the same time professor of history and literature there.[2]
Bishop of Connecticut edit
In 1851, Williams was elected Assistant Bishop of Connecticut.[4] He was the 53rd bishop of the American Episcopalian succession, and was consecrated by Bishops Thomas Church Brownell, John Henry Hopkins, and William Heathcote DeLancey.[4] In 1854, Williams founded Berkeley Divinity School at Middletown, and held the office of dean as well as being principal instructor in Church history and theology at the School.[4] On the death of Bishop Brownell in 1865, Williams succeeded him in the sole charge of the diocese, remaining Dean of Berkeley Divinity School also.[4]
Presiding bishop edit
Williams succeeded Alfred Lee of Delaware as presiding bishop in 1887, and earned the reputation of a wise conservative leader in ecclesiastical affairs.[5] In 1896, he was acknowledged as the senior bishop in the Anglican communion.
Works edit
Among his published works are:
- Thoughts on the Gospel Miracles (1848)
- The English Reformation (Paddock Lectures, 1881)
- The World's Witness to Jesus Christ (Bedell Lectures, 1882)
- Studies in the Book of the Acts (1888)
See also edit
Notes edit
References edit
- Batterson, Hermon Griswold (1884). A Sketch-book of the American Episcopate during one hundred years, 1783-1883. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippencott & Co. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- Johnson, Rossiter (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. X. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- Shepard, James (1907). History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn. New Britain, Conn.: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Company. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
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External links edit
- Documents by Williams from Project Canterbury
- Works by John Williams at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about John Williams at Internet Archive