The Right Reverend

William A. Brown
Bishop of Southern Virginia
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseSouthern Virginia
Elected1938
In office1938–1950
PredecessorArthur C. Thomson
SuccessorGeorge P. Gunn
Orders
OrdinationMay 29, 1902
by Alfred Magill Randolph
ConsecrationMay 3, 1938
by Henry St. George Tucker
Personal details
Born(1878-01-03)January 3, 1878
DiedJuly 12, 1965(1965-07-12) (aged 87)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsHenry William Brown, Sarah Slade Runyard
SpouseMary Ramsey (m.1902)
Winifred Washington Watts (m.1938)
Children2

William Ambrose Brown (January 3, 1878 – July 12, 1965) was an American bishop who served as the fourth Bishop of Southern Virginia between 1938 and 1950.

Early life and education

Brown was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, on January 3, 1878, the son of Henry William Brown and Sarah Slade Runyard, who emigrated to the United States from England in 1872. He was educated at the public schools of Danville, Virginia, and later at Roanoke College from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1898 and a Master of Arts in 1901. He also graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1902. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1917 and a Doctor of Laws from Roanoke College in 1938.[1]

Ordained ministry

Brown was ordained deacon in 1901 and priest on May 29, 1902, by Bishop Alfred Magill Randolph of Virginia, during which he served as rector of Christ Church in Blacksburg, Virginia. In 1902 he became rector of Magill Memorial Church in Pulaski, Virginia, and in 1904 he became rector of St. John's Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, a post he held until 1938.[2] His daughter, Mary Brown Channel, would go on to design additions to the latter structure during her architectural career.[3]

Episcopacy

Brown was elected Bishop of Southern Virginia 1938 and was consecrated on May 3, 1938, by Presiding Bishop Henry St. George Tucker at St John's Church, Portsmouth, Virginia.[4] He retired in May 1950 and died on July 12, 1965.

Family

Brown married twice, first to Mary Ramsey in 1902 and, after her death, he then married Winifred Washington Watts in 1938. He had two children from his first marriage, including Mary Brown Channel, the first woman licensed to practice architecture in Virginia.

References

  1. "Two Bishops die". The Living Church. 151: 5. 3 October 1965.
  2. White, T. J. (1969). "Brown, William Ambrose". The National Cyclopedia of American Biography. 51: 326.
  3. "Art & Architecture | St. John's Episcopal Church". Stjohnsportsmouth.org. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  4. "William Ambrose Brown". The Living Church Annual: 53. 1939.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.