William Mercer Green
Encyclopedia
William Mercer Green was the first Episcopal
bishop of Mississippi
.
in 1798. He was the son of William Green, a North Carolina rice planter, and Mary (Bradley) Green, a woman of Quaker extraction. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1818 and was ordained deacon April 29, 1821. Two years later, on April 20, 1823, Green was ordained priest. He became the rector of St. John's Church
in Williamsboro, North Carolina, where he remained for four years. He then moved to Hillsborough
, where he was rector of St. Matthew's Church until 1837. In that year, he was appointed chaplain and professor of belles-lettres at the University of North Carolina. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1845.
, February 24, 1850 by Bishops James Hervey Otey
, Leonidas Polk
, and Nicholas Hamner Cobbs
. He consecrated the Chapel of the Cross
in 1852. He was among founders of the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tennessee
, in 1860 and became its chancellor in 1867.
The Episcopal Church in Mississippi grew under Green's leadership, increasing to thirty-three parishs by 1855. During the American Civil War
, the Battle of Jackson
forced Green from the city, and when he returned, the Church had been destroyed. In 1882, in ailing health, Green requested the aid of a coadjutor bishop
, and Hugh Miller Thompson
was elected to the position.
Green printed a few sermons on "Baptismal Regeneration" and "Apostolic Succession
," as well as an oration on "The Influence of Christianity upon the Welfare of Nations" (1831). He also published a brief "Memoir of the Right Reverend Bishop Ravenscroft, of North Carolina" (1830) and a "Life of the Right Reverend Bishop Otey, of Tennessee" (1886).
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 Mississippi
Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, created in 1850, is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over the entire state of Mississippi. It is in Province 4 and its cathedral, St...
.
Early life
Green was born in Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
in 1798. He was the son of William Green, a North Carolina rice planter, and Mary (Bradley) Green, a woman of Quaker extraction. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1818 and was ordained deacon April 29, 1821. Two years later, on April 20, 1823, Green was ordained priest. He became the rector of St. John's Church
St. John's Episcopal Church (Williamsboro, North Carolina)
St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic church on SR 1329 in Williamsboro, North Carolina.It was built in 1773 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.-References:...
in Williamsboro, North Carolina, where he remained for four years. He then moved to Hillsborough
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
, where he was rector of St. Matthew's Church until 1837. In that year, he was appointed chaplain and professor of belles-lettres at the University of North Carolina. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1845.
Bishop of Mississippi
Green was elected to be the first bishop of the diocese of Mississippi in 1849. He was the 51st bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated in St. Andrew's Church, Jackson, MississippiJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, February 24, 1850 by Bishops James Hervey Otey
James Hervey Otey
James Hervey Otey , Christian educator and the first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee, established the first Anglican church in the state and its first parish churches.-Biography:...
, Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who was once a planter in Maury County, Tennessee, and a second cousin of President James K. Polk...
, and Nicholas Hamner Cobbs
Nicholas Hamner Cobbs
Bishop Nicholas Hamner Cobbs was minister and evangelist of the Episcopal church. He was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on 5 February, 1796. Cobbs was raised a Presbyterian and educated privately. He was subsequently confirmed an Episcopalian and ordained a deacon on the same day, May 23,...
. He consecrated the Chapel of the Cross
Chapel of the Cross (Mannsdale, Mississippi)
The Chapel of the Cross is a historic Episcopal church in the Mannsdale area of Madison, Mississippi. The brick structure was built circa 1850–52. It is noted for its Gothic Revival architecture, which draws heavily from 14th-century English country churches...
in 1852. He was among founders of the University of the South, at 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 1860 and became its chancellor in 1867.
The Episcopal Church in Mississippi grew under Green's leadership, increasing to thirty-three parishs by 1855. 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...
, the Battle of Jackson
Battle of Jackson (MS)
The Battle of Jackson, fought on May 14, 1863, in Jackson, Mississippi, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign in the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee defeated Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, seizing the city, cutting supply lines, and...
forced Green from the city, and when he returned, the Church had been destroyed. In 1882, in ailing health, Green requested the aid of a coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
, and Hugh Miller Thompson
Hugh Miller Thompson
Hugh Miller Thompson was the second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. He was consecrated an assistant bishop to the Rt. Rev. William Mercer Green in 1883. He became Mississippi's diocesan bishop upon the death of Bishop Green in 1887. Bishop Thompson remained Mississippi's diocesan...
was elected to the position.
Green printed a few sermons on "Baptismal Regeneration" and "Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
," as well as an oration on "The Influence of Christianity upon the Welfare of Nations" (1831). He also published a brief "Memoir of the Right Reverend Bishop Ravenscroft, of North Carolina" (1830) and a "Life of the Right Reverend Bishop Otey, of Tennessee" (1886).
Family
Green was twice married: firstly, to Sarah Williams, who died in 1832, leaving five children; and secondly to Charlotte Fleming, who bore him eight more children.External link
- Documents by and about Green from Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...