Marion J. Hatchett
Encyclopedia
Marion Josiah Hatchett was an Episcopal priest, scholar, and one of the primary liturgists who shaped 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
Born in Monroe, South Carolina, Hatchett was the son of a United Methodist minister. In December 1946 he was confirmed as an Episcopalian
while a student at Wofford College
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
. He went from Wofford College
to the University of the South, where he graduated from in 1951 with a Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina in 1951, and then a priest in 1952. He served as a curate at Church of the Advent, Spartanburg; deacon-in-charge of Incarnation, Gaffney, and Atonement, Blacksburg, and then as rector of St. Peter's, Charleston, where he also served as chaplain to The Citadel.
Desiring to further his education, he moved from Charlestown back to Sewanee, Tennessee
in 1965 in order to pursue a Master of Sacred Theology
, which he received in 1967. In 1969 he began serving on the faculty of The School of Theology of the University of the South. While serving there he did work on his doctoral studies through General Theological Seminary
, receiving a Doctor of Theology
in 1972.
In the early 1970s, as work on the proposed "new Prayer Book" was underway, Hatchett's work, along with that of Massey Shepherd
, deeply shaped the final version. In 1973, he was appointed to the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Church Music, serving as the chairperson of that text committee for The Hymnal 1982
. In 1976, Hatchett was appointed a member of the Standing Liturgical Commission. He served as chairman of the committee which produced The Book of Occasional Services, 1979. He also served as a member of the Episcopal Church's General Board of Examining Chaplains (1988–1994).
After publication of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Hatchett authored the exhaustive Commentary on the American Prayer Book (1981), still the definitive resource on the history and theology of the Episcopal Church's current Prayer Book. He is also the author of Sancitfying Life, Time and Space: An Introduction to Liturgical Study (1976), A Manual for Clergy and Church Musicians (1980), The Making of the First American Book of Common Prayer (1982), and several journal articles.
In addition to his work with the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Hymnal 1982, and Book of Occasional Services, he taught liturgical and church music at The School of Theology of the University of the South from February 1, 1969, until his retirement on May 16, 1999. On January 15, 1991, he was named the Cleveland Keith Benedict Professor of Pastoral Theology. Believing a seminary education involved more than information, Hatchett was known for opening his home to students throughout his 30 years as a professor. Even after his retirement, he remained in Sewanee and was active in the life of The School of Theology, continuing to teach at an adjunct level and open his home to students. When the current professor of liturgy at The School of Theology went on sabbatical in the first semester of the 2007-2008 academic year, Hatchett, then 80 years old, returned to teach the senior liturgy course to another generation of priests. In 2008 General Theological Seminary
awarded him their distinguished alumni award. The same year the The School of Theology awarded him an honorary
Doctor of Divinity
.
Hatchett died of natural causes at Emerald-Hodgson Hospital in Sewanee, Tennessee in August 2009.
Born in Monroe, South Carolina, Hatchett was the son of a United Methodist minister. In December 1946 he was confirmed as an Episcopalian
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...
while a student at Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
. He went from Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
to the University of the South, where he graduated from in 1951 with a Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina in 1951, and then a priest in 1952. He served as a curate at Church of the Advent, Spartanburg; deacon-in-charge of Incarnation, Gaffney, and Atonement, Blacksburg, and then as rector of St. Peter's, Charleston, where he also served as chaplain to The Citadel.
Desiring to further his education, he moved from Charlestown back to Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
in 1965 in order to pursue 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....
, which he received in 1967. In 1969 he began serving on the faculty of The School of Theology of the University of the South. While serving there he did work on his doctoral studies through General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
, receiving a Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1972.
In the early 1970s, as work on the proposed "new Prayer Book" was underway, Hatchett's work, along with that of Massey Shepherd
Massey H. Shepherd
The Reverend Doctor Massey Hamilton Shepherd, jr was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1941. He was born in Wilmington, NC the son of Alice Louise Gladstone Melville and Massey Hamilton Shepherd, sr. He had an older sister...
, deeply shaped the final version. In 1973, he was appointed to the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Church Music, serving as the chairperson of that text committee for The Hymnal 1982
The Hymnal 1982
The Hymnal 1982 is the hymnal of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is one in a series of 7 official hymnals of the Episcopal Church, including The Hymnal 1940...
. In 1976, Hatchett was appointed a member of the Standing Liturgical Commission. He served as chairman of the committee which produced The Book of Occasional Services, 1979. He also served as a member of the Episcopal Church's General Board of Examining Chaplains (1988–1994).
After publication of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Hatchett authored the exhaustive Commentary on the American Prayer Book (1981), still the definitive resource on the history and theology of the Episcopal Church's current Prayer Book. He is also the author of Sancitfying Life, Time and Space: An Introduction to Liturgical Study (1976), A Manual for Clergy and Church Musicians (1980), The Making of the First American Book of Common Prayer (1982), and several journal articles.
In addition to his work with the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Hymnal 1982, and Book of Occasional Services, he taught liturgical and church music at The School of Theology of the University of the South from February 1, 1969, until his retirement on May 16, 1999. On January 15, 1991, he was named the Cleveland Keith Benedict Professor of Pastoral Theology. Believing a seminary education involved more than information, Hatchett was known for opening his home to students throughout his 30 years as a professor. Even after his retirement, he remained in Sewanee and was active in the life of The School of Theology, continuing to teach at an adjunct level and open his home to students. When the current professor of liturgy at The School of Theology went on sabbatical in the first semester of the 2007-2008 academic year, Hatchett, then 80 years old, returned to teach the senior liturgy course to another generation of priests. In 2008 General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
awarded him their distinguished alumni award. The same year the The School of Theology awarded him an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
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....
.
Hatchett died of natural causes at Emerald-Hodgson Hospital in Sewanee, Tennessee in August 2009.
External links
- Marion Hatchett, Influential Liturgist, Dies at 82 The Living Church, August 10, 2009.
- Hatchett, Marion Josiah The Episcopal Church Office of Liturgy and Music
- School of Theology mourns passing of Marion Hatchett School of Theology News