Bertram Nelson Herlong
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Bertram Nelson Herlong (October 16, 1934 – October 21, 2011) was the tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
.
and graduated from Columbia High School
in 1952. He received a bachelor's degree in Literature and English from the University of Florida
in 1956, and married Barbara Ann Vickers in June, 1957. The couple had two children, Angela and Michele.
University of the South where he was awarded a Bachelors of Divinity in 1959. He was ordained to the diaconate on July 25, 1960 by Edward Hamilton West, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida
, and to the priesthood by the same bishop on March 13, 1961.
Herlong's ministry began at Church of the Epiphany in Crestview, Florida
and he was the first vicar at St. Jude's Church in Valparaiso, Florida
. He became Canon Pastor at St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida
and was Assistant Headmaster and Chaplain at Jacksonville Episcopal High School.
Herlong earned a Master of Sacred Theology
degree in 1970 by taking classes over seven summers. He was appointed associate rector of Trinity Church, Wall Street in 1972, becoming vicar of Trinity's St. Paul's Chapel
in 1977. He continued his education at the New York Theological Seminary
and was awarded a Doctorate of Ministry in 1980. He was also active in the community, starting a hospice
at Beekman Downtown Hospital
in Manhattan and organizing St. Margaret's Housing Center for seniors. He was also a director for the New York Board of Trade
.
He became Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, Detroit
in 1979.
In 1988, he was a candidate in the episcopal election of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
before being elected bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee on January 30, 1993. He was consecrated on June 26, 1993 and awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree in 1993.
Herlong's principal consecrators were
Herlong was a member of the Board of Directors of The Living Church
Foundation and episcopal visitor of the Community of Saint Mary, Southern Province. He was considered a leader among conservatives in the Episcopal Church USA.
Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America that covers roughly Middle Tennessee. A single diocese spanned the entire state until 1982, when the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee was created; the Diocese of Tennessee was again split...
.
Early life
He was born in Lake City, FloridaLake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
and graduated from Columbia High School
Columbia High School (Lake City, Florida)
Columbia High School is a four-year public high school located in Lake City, Florida. The school's mascot is the Fighting Tigers and the colors are purple and gold...
in 1952. He received a bachelor's degree in Literature and English from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1956, and married Barbara Ann Vickers in June, 1957. The couple had two children, Angela and Michele.
Ministry
After the death of his brother, George, Herlong was called to the ministry and enrolled at theUniversity of the South where he was awarded a Bachelors of Divinity in 1959. He was ordained to the diaconate on July 25, 1960 by Edward Hamilton West, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America . It originally comprised the whole state of Florida, but is now bounded on the west by the Apalachicola River, on the north by the Georgia state line, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the...
, and to the priesthood by the same bishop on March 13, 1961.
Herlong's ministry began at Church of the Epiphany in Crestview, Florida
Crestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
and he was the first vicar at St. Jude's Church in Valparaiso, Florida
Valparaiso, Florida
Valparaiso is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, in the United States, and it is named after the Chilean city of Valparaiso. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,408. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 6,336...
. He became Canon Pastor at St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and was Assistant Headmaster and Chaplain at Jacksonville Episcopal High School.
Herlong earned a Master of Sacred Theology
Master of Sacred Theology
The Master of Sacred Theology is a second-level graduate degree for those who wish to pursue a year of more advanced coursework focusing on a particular discipline....
degree in 1970 by taking classes over seven summers. He was appointed associate rector of Trinity Church, Wall Street in 1972, becoming vicar of Trinity's St. Paul's Chapel
St. Paul's Chapel
St. Paul's Chapel, is an Episcopal chapel located at 209 Broadway, between Fulton and Vesey Streets, in lower Manhattan in New York City. It is the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan.-History and architecture:...
in 1977. He continued his education at the New York Theological Seminary
New York Theological Seminary
The New York Theological Seminary was established as a non-denominational institution in 1900 with the founding of the Bible Teachers’ College in Montclair, New Jersey by Wilbert Webster White. President White moved the school to New York City in 1902, when it was renamed the Bible Teachers’...
and was awarded a Doctorate of Ministry in 1980. He was also active in the community, starting a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
at Beekman Downtown Hospital
New York Downtown Hospital
New York Downtown Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care, teaching hospital in New York City and is the only hospital in Lower Manhattan...
in Manhattan and organizing St. Margaret's Housing Center for seniors. He was also a director for the New York Board of Trade
New York Board of Trade
The New York Board of Trade , renamed ICE Futures US in September of 2007, is a wholly owned subsidiary of IntercontinentalExchange . It is a physical commodity futures exchange located in New York City. It originated in 1870 as the New York Cotton Exchange...
.
He became Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, Detroit
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. The cathedral is located at 4800 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, adjacent to the campus of Wayne State University. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in...
in 1979.
In 1988, he was a candidate in the episcopal election of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida is a diocese in Florida in Province IV of the Episcopal Church. It is bounded on the north by the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the dioceses of Southeast Florida and Southwest Florida and on the west by the...
before being elected bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee on January 30, 1993. He was consecrated on June 26, 1993 and awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree in 1993.
Herlong's principal consecrators were
- Edmond Lee Browning, Presiding Bishop
- Charlie Fuller McNutt
- Peter James Lee
Bishopship
He was succeeded as diocesan bishop by John Crawford Bauerschmidt, eleventh Bishop of Tennessee, who was consecrated on January 27, 2007.Herlong was a member of the Board of Directors of The Living Church
The Living Church
The Living Church is a biweekly magazine based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin providing commentary and news information on the Episcopal Church in the United States...
Foundation and episcopal visitor of the Community of Saint Mary, Southern Province. He was considered a leader among conservatives in the Episcopal Church USA.