Kirkman George Finlay
Encyclopedia
Kirkman George Finlay was the first bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
.
from Scotland
by way of Canada
. Within months of arriving in Greenville
, five of the eight Finlay children died of diphtheria
. James Finlay was financially well-off and, "as a gentleman farmer", operated a farm in Greenville named The Cedars.
Finlay attended a private school
in Greenville, and later attended Furman University
, receiving a Bachelor of Literature
degree in June, 1899.
Finlay's older brother, John, had studied for the ministry and had been ordained to the diaconate, but died before he could be ordained to the priesthood. Soon after his graduation from Furman, Finlay left for Sewanee. While at Sewanee, during the summer of 1901, Finlay met his future wife, Lucy Reed of St. George
; they married on April 22, 1903 in Clemson, South Carolina
. Finlay's first cure
was Holy Trinity, Clemson; additionally, Finlay was responsible for St. Paul's, Pendleton
; Ascension, Seneca
; and St. John's, Walhalla
. The couple's first son, James Alexander Finlay, was born in 1906, but died in October, 1907.
Finlay was called as rector
of Trinity Church in Columbia
in 1907; he remained there for thirteen years. During his time at Trinity Church, he helped move the parish away from the renting of pews as a source of income, and instituted "the Every Member Canvass as the chief source of parish support". In June, 1918, Finlay was granted a leave of absence to serve in France
with the YMCA
; he served for a total of seventeen months. Finlay returned from France in 1919, and was active politically when social justice concerns were debated in the state legislature.
In 1920, Finlay was elected bishop coadjutor of the diocese
, and he ended his term as rector of Trinity Church on December 31 of that year. He was consecrated bishop on January 20, 1921 by Bishops Williams Alexander Guerry (South Carolina, and acting for the Presiding Bishop), Frederick F. Reese (Georgia), and Joseph B. Cheshire (North Carolina).
region of the state. The diocese was divided in October, 1922, and he became bishop diocesan
of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Finlay was responsible for many endeavors to create churches and schools for African Americans. In 1928, he became Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Voorhees Normal and Industrial School for Negroes
at Denmark, South Carolina
. By 1934, all but the two South Carolina dioceses afforded African Americans representation with a vote in diocesan affairs, and Finlay was working hard to change this; though the change was not approved in the 1934 diocesan convention, it was approved in the 1947 diocesan convention.
Finlay was one of the church leaders instrumental in the creation of the Kanuga Conference Center
in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Finlay died at Kanuga on August 27, 1938. He is buried in the churchyard of Trinity Church, Columbia.
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 Upper South Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is a diocese in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America .Originally part of the Diocese of South Carolina, it became independent on October 10-11, 1922 following nearly two years of planning. The see city is Columbia. Its cathedral is...
.
Background and early ministry
Kirkman George Finlay was born on October 1, 1877, to James Finlay and Marian Ponsonby Gun. A few years prior to his birth, Finlay's family came to South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
by way of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Within months of arriving in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, five of the eight Finlay children died of diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
. James Finlay was financially well-off and, "as a gentleman farmer", operated a farm in Greenville named The Cedars.
Finlay attended a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
in Greenville, and later attended Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
, receiving a Bachelor of Literature
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degree in June, 1899.
Finlay's older brother, John, had studied for the ministry and had been ordained to the diaconate, but died before he could be ordained to the priesthood. Soon after his graduation from Furman, Finlay left for Sewanee. While at Sewanee, during the summer of 1901, Finlay met his future wife, Lucy Reed of St. George
St. George, South Carolina
Saint George is a town in Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,092 at the 2000 census. It has been the county seat of Dorchester County since the latter's formation from Colleton County in 1897....
; they married on April 22, 1903 in Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
. Finlay's first cure
Cure of souls
In some denominations of Christianity, the cure of souls , an archaic translation which is better rendered today as "care of souls," is the exercise by a priest of his office. This typically embraces instruction, by sermons and admonitions, and administration of sacraments, to the congregation...
was Holy Trinity, Clemson; additionally, Finlay was responsible for St. Paul's, Pendleton
Pendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,966 at the 2000 census. It is a sister city of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland....
; Ascension, Seneca
Seneca, South Carolina
Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Seneca Micropolitan Statistical Area Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is...
; and St. John's, Walhalla
Walhalla, South Carolina
Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It is located from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The population was 3,801 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Oconee County...
. The couple's first son, James Alexander Finlay, was born in 1906, but died in October, 1907.
Finlay was called as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Trinity Church in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
in 1907; he remained there for thirteen years. During his time at Trinity Church, he helped move the parish away from the renting of pews as a source of income, and instituted "the Every Member Canvass as the chief source of parish support". In June, 1918, Finlay was granted a leave of absence to serve in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
; he served for a total of seventeen months. Finlay returned from France in 1919, and was active politically when social justice concerns were debated in the state legislature.
In 1920, Finlay was elected bishop coadjutor of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, and he ended his term as rector of Trinity Church on December 31 of that year. He was consecrated bishop on January 20, 1921 by Bishops Williams Alexander Guerry (South Carolina, and acting for the Presiding Bishop), Frederick F. Reese (Georgia), and Joseph B. Cheshire (North Carolina).
Episcopacy
As bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, Finlay was responsible for the PiedmontPiedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
region of the state. The diocese was divided in October, 1922, and he became bishop diocesan
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is a diocese in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America .Originally part of the Diocese of South Carolina, it became independent on October 10-11, 1922 following nearly two years of planning. The see city is Columbia. Its cathedral is...
.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Finlay was responsible for many endeavors to create churches and schools for African Americans. In 1928, he became Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Voorhees Normal and Industrial School for Negroes
Voorhees College
Voorhees College is a private, historically black college in Denmark, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Voorhees College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
at Denmark, South Carolina
Denmark, South Carolina
Denmark is a city in Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,934 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Denmark is located at .According to the...
. By 1934, all but the two South Carolina dioceses afforded African Americans representation with a vote in diocesan affairs, and Finlay was working hard to change this; though the change was not approved in the 1934 diocesan convention, it was approved in the 1947 diocesan convention.
Finlay was one of the church leaders instrumental in the creation of the Kanuga Conference Center
Kanuga Conference Center
Kanuga Conference Center is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, USA. It is located on near Hendersonville, North Carolina, with scenic Kanuga Lake at its center. Yearly, more than 35,000 guests utilize the facilities, which include the Conference Center, Camp Kanuga , Camp Bob Summer, and the...
in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Finlay died at Kanuga on August 27, 1938. He is buried in the churchyard of Trinity Church, Columbia.