William Hampton Brady
Encyclopedia
William Hampton Brady was a bishop in the American Episcopal Church
.
on September 7, 1912, Brady graduated from the University of Maryland
in 1935. He then attended the General Theological Seminary
, New York, graduating in 1938. He was married to Margaret and they had four children, Mary Margaret, Anne, William Jr. and Bernard.
.
Brady served as Rector of St. Paul’s, Alton, Illinois and Priest-in-Charge of St. Gabriel’s Mission, Wood River, Illinois from 1948-1953. Brady served on the Standing Committee and was also a Deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Springfield
.
on November 11, 1952. His consecration took place February 24, 1953, where Bishop Harwood Sturtevant
served as the Chief Consecrator. The diocese was basically a rural/town missionary diocese with 21 missions and 18 parishes. Bishop Brady served as Coadjutor for four years, during which time he lived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
since Bishop Sturtevant assigned him the parishes in the area then known as the Western Convocation in addition to all the missions of the diocese.
On the retirement of Bishop Sturtevant, Brady's enthronement as Diocesan took place at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on January 6, 1957. One process Brady immediately addressed had to do with diocesan investments. Bishop Sturtevant had handled these directly in consultation with diocesan treasurer, Andre Perry. Working with the Trustees of the Diocese, a decision was made to sell all of the investments currently held by the Diocese and pool the money as a common trust. Congregations were also able to participate in the pooling of these funds to gain the advantage that comes from larger pools of assets.
In 1959, Bishop Brady formed the Apostolate Committee which discussed all aspects of the diocesan life. One member suggested a diocesan festival, and so began, on the last Sunday in June, 1960 the Eucharistic Festival with a glorious procession, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a hot-dog party after the service. The Eucharist Festival continues to this day.
When Bishop Brady came to the Diocese, most of the congregation used Morning Prayer on Sunday mornings. He worked to set the character for priests to know that each day, especially Sunday, was centered in the Holy Eucharist. Bishop Brady also held many gatherings around the diocese with the clergy and lay people to discuss various subjects including vocations, and Christian response in a civil world. These gatherings stimulated thinking, drew people closer together where they learned to respect each other’s ideas. In the early 1960s, a diocesan-wide fundraising campaign was held that raised over $700,000, benefiting many congregations throughout the diocese over the years by gifts and loans.
Brady also served for a time as Chaplain-General of the Order of St. Vincent, the National Guild for Acolytes
In 1974, Bishop Brady was one of four bishops who filed charges against bishops who participated in a service in which 11 women deacons were intended to be ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 29, 1974. While these ordinations were found to be irregular, the Episcopal Church did eventually allow the ordination of women to the priesthood.
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...
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Early life
Born in Aquasco, MarylandAquasco, Maryland
Aquasco is an unincorporated area in southeastern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located near Eagle Harbor and Charles County. It was home to the Aquasco Speedway....
on September 7, 1912, Brady graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
in 1935. He then 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....
, New York, graduating in 1938. He was married to Margaret and they had four children, Mary Margaret, Anne, William Jr. and Bernard.
Priesthood
After ordination to the diaconate and priesthoood, Brady served as assistant at the Church of the Resurrection, New York for two years. He was then called to serve as Rector of St. Paul’s, Savannah, Georgia. Over the next eight years (1940–1948), he is credited with "dramatically reducing the financial indebtedness of the Parish" and also "persuaded the Vestry to purchase a rectory". In retirement, Brady and his wife, Margaret (who was reared in the parish) remained devoted friends of St. Paul’s. Brady served on the Executive Council and Standing Committee and was also a Deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of GeorgiaEpiscopal Diocese of Georgia
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, USA is one of 20 dioceses that comprise Province IV of the US Episcopal Church, and is a diocese within the worldwide Anglican Communion. The current bishop is the Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase who succeeded the Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Jr...
.
Brady served as Rector of St. Paul’s, Alton, Illinois and Priest-in-Charge of St. Gabriel’s Mission, Wood River, Illinois from 1948-1953. Brady served on the Standing Committee and was also a Deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Springfield
Episcopal Diocese of Springfield
The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in the state of Illinois and includes the area east of the Illinois River and south of the Counties of Woodford, Livingston, Ford, and Iroquois...
.
Episcopate
Brady was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Fond du LacEpiscopal Diocese of Fond du Lac
The Diocese of Fond du Lac is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the northeastern third of Wisconsin. The diocese contains more than 6,000 baptized members worshipping in 36 locations. It is part of Province 5 . Diocesan offices are in Appleton, Wisconsin...
on November 11, 1952. His consecration took place February 24, 1953, where Bishop Harwood Sturtevant
Harwood Sturtevant
Harwood Sturtevant was the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA.-Early Life:Born June 30, 1888, in Michigan, Harwood Sturtevant grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin where he graduated high school...
served as the Chief Consecrator. The diocese was basically a rural/town missionary diocese with 21 missions and 18 parishes. Bishop Brady served as Coadjutor for four years, during which time he lived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
since Bishop Sturtevant assigned him the parishes in the area then known as the Western Convocation in addition to all the missions of the diocese.
On the retirement of Bishop Sturtevant, Brady's enthronement as Diocesan took place at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on January 6, 1957. One process Brady immediately addressed had to do with diocesan investments. Bishop Sturtevant had handled these directly in consultation with diocesan treasurer, Andre Perry. Working with the Trustees of the Diocese, a decision was made to sell all of the investments currently held by the Diocese and pool the money as a common trust. Congregations were also able to participate in the pooling of these funds to gain the advantage that comes from larger pools of assets.
In 1959, Bishop Brady formed the Apostolate Committee which discussed all aspects of the diocesan life. One member suggested a diocesan festival, and so began, on the last Sunday in June, 1960 the Eucharistic Festival with a glorious procession, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a hot-dog party after the service. The Eucharist Festival continues to this day.
When Bishop Brady came to the Diocese, most of the congregation used Morning Prayer on Sunday mornings. He worked to set the character for priests to know that each day, especially Sunday, was centered in the Holy Eucharist. Bishop Brady also held many gatherings around the diocese with the clergy and lay people to discuss various subjects including vocations, and Christian response in a civil world. These gatherings stimulated thinking, drew people closer together where they learned to respect each other’s ideas. In the early 1960s, a diocesan-wide fundraising campaign was held that raised over $700,000, benefiting many congregations throughout the diocese over the years by gifts and loans.
Brady also served for a time as Chaplain-General of the Order of St. Vincent, the National Guild for Acolytes
In 1974, Bishop Brady was one of four bishops who filed charges against bishops who participated in a service in which 11 women deacons were intended to be ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 29, 1974. While these ordinations were found to be irregular, the Episcopal Church did eventually allow the ordination of women to the priesthood.
Retirement
After his retirement in 1980, Bishop Brady continued to live in Fond du Lac. He served briefly as interim Rector in 1982 of St. Paul’s, Savannah, Georgia, a congregation he served from 1940-1948. He also served as Superior General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1988, Brady was the leader of an American contingent of a pilgrimage to both Glastonbury and Walsingham in England. Brady died on December 23, 1996 after a long illness.See also
- List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USASuccession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United StatesThis list consists of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. This shows the historic succession of the episcopate within this denomination.-Key to chart:...
Sources
- History of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and its Several Congregations: A.D. 1925-2005 (Appleton, WI: Diocese of Fond du Lac, Unpublished)
- Bishop Brady Dies Was Bishop of Fond du Lac for 24 Years, The Living Church, 214(3) p. 6, January 19, 1997