Thomas Hubbard Vail
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hubbard Vail was the first Episcopal
Bishop of Kansas
.
, the son of Israel E. Vail and Maria Rogers Vail, who had emigrated there from New England. He attended Washington College (now Trinity College), graduating in 1831. He next attended the General Theological Seminary
, graduating in 1835. In 1836, he married Frances Sophia Burling, with whom he had seven children.
Vail was ordained deacon that year, and ordained priest in 1837. After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of Christ Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts
in 1837. While rector of Christ Church, Vail wrote "Hannah," a sacred drama, which he published anonymously in 1839.
Two years later, Vail moved to Essex, Connecticut
to become rector of St. John's Church in that town. In 1844, he moved again, to Christ Church of Westerly, Rhode Island, where he remained for thirteen years. While there, Vail received a doctorate of sacred theology
from Brown University
.
In 1857, Vail returned to Massachusetts to become rector of St. Thomas Church in Taunton
. He moved once more, in 1863, to Muscatine, Iowa
, to serve as rector of Trinity Church
.
by Bishops Jackson Kemper
, Henry John Whitehouse
, and Henry Washington Lee
. As bishop, Vail founded the College of the Sisters of Bethany
(now a part of Washburn University
) and earned a doctorate of laws from the University of Kansas
. In 1867, his first wife having died, Vail married again, to Ellen Ledlie Bowman, the daughter of Bishop Samuel Bowman
, with whom he had two more children.
In 1879, he wrote "The Comprehensive Church: or, Christian Unity and Ecclesiastical Union in the Protestant Episcopal Church". In 1882, Vail and his wife purchased land in Topeka and donated it for the site of Christ's Hospital (now Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center).
He died in 1889 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
.
He is buried in the Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas.
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 Kansas
Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, created in 1859, is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over eastern Kansas. It is in Province 7 and its cathedral, Grace Cathedral, is in Topeka, as are the diocesan offices....
.
Early life
Vail was born in 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...
, the son of Israel E. Vail and Maria Rogers Vail, who had emigrated there from New England. He attended Washington College (now Trinity College), graduating in 1831. He next attended the 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....
, graduating in 1835. In 1836, he married Frances Sophia Burling, with whom he had seven children.
Vail was ordained deacon that year, and ordained priest in 1837. After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of Christ Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
in 1837. While rector of Christ Church, Vail wrote "Hannah," a sacred drama, which he published anonymously in 1839.
Two years later, Vail moved to Essex, Connecticut
Essex, Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.- History :- The Great Attack :...
to become rector of St. John's Church in that town. In 1844, he moved again, to Christ Church of Westerly, Rhode Island, where he remained for thirteen years. While there, Vail received a doctorate of sacred theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
In 1857, Vail returned to Massachusetts to become rector of St. Thomas Church in Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
. He moved once more, in 1863, to Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
, to serve as rector of Trinity Church
Trinity Episcopal Church (Muscatine, Iowa)
Trinity Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Muscatine, Iowa, United States, at 411 East 2nd Street...
.
Bishop of Kansas
Vail was consecrated the first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas in 1864. He was the 73rd bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated in Christ Church, Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
by Bishops Jackson Kemper
Jackson Kemper
Bishop Jackson Kemper was the first missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.Baptized David Jackson Kemper by Dr...
, Henry John Whitehouse
Henry John Whitehouse
Henry John Whitehouse was the second Episcopal bishop of Illinois.-Early life:Whitehouse was born in New York City, the son of John Whitehouse and Eliza Norman. He graduated from Columbia University in 1821, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1824. Whitehouse was ordained deacon in...
, and Henry Washington Lee
Henry Washington Lee
Henry Washington Lee was a 19th century bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He served as the first Bishop of Iowa from 1854-1874...
. As bishop, Vail founded the College of the Sisters of Bethany
College of the Sisters of Bethany
The College of the Sisters of Bethany is a defunct school located in Topeka, Kansas. The school was chartered by the Kansas Territory on February 2, 1861 and was originally named Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka but changed its name on July 9, 1872...
(now a part of Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
) and earned a doctorate of laws from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. In 1867, his first wife having died, Vail married again, to Ellen Ledlie Bowman, the daughter of Bishop Samuel Bowman
Samuel Bowman
Samuel Bowman was a suffragan Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, United States.-Early life and family:Bowman was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the son of Samuel Bowman, a captain in the Continental Army, and his wife, Eleanor Ledlie...
, with whom he had two more children.
In 1879, he wrote "The Comprehensive Church: or, Christian Unity and Ecclesiastical Union in the Protestant Episcopal Church". In 1882, Vail and his wife purchased land in Topeka and donated it for the site of Christ's Hospital (now Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center).
He died in 1889 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
.
He is buried in the Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas.