Allen W. Brown
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Allen W. Brown (1909–1990) was the fifth Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
in the United States
from 1961 to 1974, during turbulent times from the 1960s to the drafting of the new Book of Common Prayer
.
. He was ordained
a priest
in 1934. He worked at several parishes in the diocese of Albany in the 1940s, including in Hudson
and Copake Falls, before he become Dean
of the Cathedral of All Saints
(previously St. Paul's had been the cathedra
or see
.) He was married to the former Helen Belshaw.
of Albany in October 1958, to assist the incumbent bishop Frederick L. Barry
. He was consecrated on February 22, 1959, at St. John's Church, Ogdensburg
, by Presiding Bishop
the Most Reverend Arthur C. Lichtenberger
. In 1960, Bishop Barry died in a hospital after some time in ill health, and the see was left vacant. Brown was elected and consecrated bishop in 1961. In 1963, he requested the election of a new Suffragan bishop; Charles Bowen Persell, Jr., his only close competitor in the 1958 race, was thereafter elected.
Bishop Brown travelled widely though the 19-county diocese to confirm parishioners, to ordain priests, and to preach.
He retired as bishop in 1974, and died in 1990 at the age of 81.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
Episcopal Diocese of Albany
The Episcopal Diocese of Albany is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church.-History:The Church of Englandarrived in 1674 with a chaplain assigned to the British military garrison at Albany, New York. In 1704 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent two missionaries to the Mohawk...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1961 to 1974, during turbulent times from the 1960s to the drafting of the new Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
.
Early life
Brown graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity School with his degree in divinityDivinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1934. He worked at several parishes in the diocese of Albany in the 1940s, including in Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
and Copake Falls, before he become Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Cathedral of All Saints
Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York is the central church of the Episcopal See of the Albany and the seat of the Episcopal Bishop of Albany...
(previously St. Paul's had been the cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
or see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
.) He was married to the former Helen Belshaw.
Work as Bishop
Brown was elected Suffragan BishopSuffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of Albany in October 1958, to assist the incumbent bishop Frederick L. Barry
Frederick L. Barry
The Right Reverend Frederick Lehrle Barry was the fourth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany in the United States from 1950 to 1960, during which he re-built a diocese.-Early life:...
. He was consecrated on February 22, 1959, at St. John's Church, Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg is the name of several places in the United States of America:* Ogdensburg, New Jersey* Ogdensburg, New York* Ogdensburg, WisconsinOther uses:*Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge connects Ogdensburg, New York to Prescott in Canada...
, by Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
the Most Reverend Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Arthur Carl Lichtenberger was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of Missouri from 1952 to 1959, and as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1958 to 1964....
. In 1960, Bishop Barry died in a hospital after some time in ill health, and the see was left vacant. Brown was elected and consecrated bishop in 1961. In 1963, he requested the election of a new Suffragan bishop; Charles Bowen Persell, Jr., his only close competitor in the 1958 race, was thereafter elected.
Bishop Brown travelled widely though the 19-county diocese to confirm parishioners, to ordain priests, and to preach.
He retired as bishop in 1974, and died in 1990 at the age of 81.
External links
See also
- List of Episcopal bishops (U.S.)