Gregory T. Bedell
Encyclopedia
Gregory Thurston Bedell (August 27, 1817–March 11, 1892) was the third Episcopal
Bishop of Ohio
.
in 1817, the son of Gregory Townsend Bedell and his wife, Penelope Thurston Bedell. While an infant, Bedell's family moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina
. In 1822, they moved again, to Philadelphia where his father became the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Bedell attended Bristol College
, graduating in 1836, and the Virginia Theological Seminary
, graduating in 1840.
Bedell was ordained deacon that same year by his great-uncle, Bishop Richard Channing Moore
, and was ordained priest by the same bishop in 1841. After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as rector of Church of the Holy Trinity in West Chester, Pennsylvania
. Two years later, Bedell moved to Church of the Ascension
in New York City
, where he remained until his elevation to the episcopate. While there, Bedell earned a doctorate of divinity from Norwich University
. In 1845, Bedell married Julia Strong. They had three children, all of whom died in infancy.
by Bishops William Meade
, Charles Pettit McIlvaine
, and John Johns
, along with other co-consecrators. He served as assistant bishop for fourteen years and, during the American Civil War
, preached loyalty to the Union. When Bishop McIlvaine died in 1873, Bedell succeeded him as the third Bishop of Ohio. In 1875, the diocese was divided into northern and southern parts, and Bedell remained bishop of the northern part, which retained the name "Ohio". Theologically, Bedell leaned toward the evangelical side of the Episcopal Church, in contrast to the growing Tractarian movement.
Bedell resigned his duties in 1889, owing to physical infirmity, and died in 1892.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Bishop of Ohio
Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the northern half of the state of Ohio.The see city is Cleveland, home of Trinity Cathedral, the cathedral of the diocese. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr...
.
Early life
Bedell was born in Hudson, New YorkHudson, 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...
in 1817, the son of Gregory Townsend Bedell and his wife, Penelope Thurston Bedell. While an infant, Bedell's family moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
. In 1822, they moved again, to Philadelphia where his father became the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Bedell attended Bristol College
Bristol College, Pennsylvania
Bristol College, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was an Episcopal college founded in 1833 by the Epsicopal Education Society and chartered in 1834. It was based on the "manual labour system", combining education with agricultural work. The founding principal was Revd Chauncey Colton and Caleb Sprague...
, graduating in 1836, and the Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
, graduating in 1840.
Bedell was ordained deacon that same year by his great-uncle, Bishop Richard Channing Moore
Richard Channing Moore
The Right Reverend Richard Channing Moore was the second bishop of the Diocese of Virginia .-Life and career:...
, and was ordained priest by the same bishop in 1841. After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as rector of Church of the Holy Trinity in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
. Two years later, Bedell moved to Church of the Ascension
Church of the Ascension (New York)
The Church of the Ascension is an Episcopal church in the Diocese of New York, located at 36-38 Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan New York City. From an austere beginning as a bastion of the evangelical movement it has become internationally known for...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he remained until his elevation to the episcopate. While there, Bedell earned a doctorate of divinity from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
. In 1845, Bedell married Julia Strong. They had three children, all of whom died in infancy.
Bishop of Ohio
Bedell was consecrated assistant Bishop of Ohio in 1859. He was the 67th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated in St. Paul's Church, Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
by Bishops William Meade
William Meade
William Meade , was a United States Episcopal bishop.The son of Richard Kidder Meade , one of George Washington's aides during the War of Independence, he was born near Millwood, in what is now Clarke County, Virginia. He graduated as valedictorian in 1808 at the college of New Jersey ; studied...
, Charles Pettit McIlvaine
Charles Pettit McIlvaine
Charles Pettit McIlvaine was an Episcopalian bishop, author, educator and twice Chaplain of the United States Senate.-Early life and family:...
, and John Johns
John Johns
John Johns was the fourth Episcopal bishop of Virginia.-Early life and education:Born into a prominent political family in New Castle, Delaware, John Johns was born in 1796. He was the son of Chief Justice Kensey Johns III, and grandson of Governor Nicholas Van Dyke of Delaware.In 1815, Johns...
, along with other co-consecrators. He served as assistant bishop for fourteen years and, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, preached loyalty to the Union. When Bishop McIlvaine died in 1873, Bedell succeeded him as the third Bishop of Ohio. In 1875, the diocese was divided into northern and southern parts, and Bedell remained bishop of the northern part, which retained the name "Ohio". Theologically, Bedell leaned toward the evangelical side of the Episcopal Church, in contrast to the growing Tractarian movement.
Bedell resigned his duties in 1889, owing to physical infirmity, and died in 1892.