Charles Chapman Grafton
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend
Charles Chapman Grafton (April 12, 1830 – August 30, 1912) was the second Bishop
of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
in The Episcopal Church.
, an affiliation of High Church
Anglicans that led to Anglo-Catholicism
in The Episcopal Church. In 1853 he graduated from Harvard
with a degree in law but found himself drawn toward the ordained ministry. Grafton studied theology under Bishop William Whittingham
of Maryland
and was ordained deacon on Dec. 23, 1855.
and Simeon Wilberforce O'Neill he co-founded the Society of St. John the Evangelist
, also known as the Cowley Fathers. Grafton returned to the United States, and in 1872 became fourth Rector of Church of the Advent, Boston. A jurisdictional dispute concerning Grafton's overseas religious superior led to his withdrawal from SSJE. Bishop Grafton also helped establish the American Congregation of Saint Benedict (now known as The Benedictine Order of St John the Beloved) and in 1888 he was a founder of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity, along with Mother Ruth Margaret.
, Alexander Burgess of Quincy
, and George F. Seymour of Springfield
. During his tenure as Bishop, Grafton spearheaded a great expansion the Diocese of Fond du Lac
, much of it driven by contributing much of his own personal wealth and soliciting contributions from many of his wealthy friends back east. He also left behind a legacy of printed works, sermons and essays.
In 1900 Grafton was chief consecrator of Reginald Heber Weller
as bishop coadjutor of Fond Du Lac. The liturgy of the consecration was controversial. The Russian Orthodox bishop of Alaska, Saint Tikhon was present as well as Rt. Rev. Anthony Kozlowski of the Polish National Catholic Church
. Bishop Grafton was photographed with these other bishops wearing copes and miters (which was not widely accepted in the Episcopal Church at that time). The photo became known as the "Fond du Lac Circus".
on August 30.
Right Reverend
The Right Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain it applies to bishops except that The Most Reverend is used for archbishops .*In some churches with a...
Charles Chapman Grafton (April 12, 1830 – August 30, 1912) was the second Bishop
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
Episcopal 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...
in The Episcopal Church.
Early Life
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was an ardent supporter of the Oxford MovementOxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, an affiliation of High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
Anglicans that led to Anglo-Catholicism
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
in The Episcopal Church. In 1853 he graduated from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with a degree in law but found himself drawn toward the ordained ministry. Grafton studied theology under Bishop William Whittingham
William Whittingham
William Whittingham was an English Biblical scholar and religious reformer. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he became a zealous Protestant; as such he found it prudent to flee to France when Mary I ascended the throne of England....
of Maryland
Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland forms part of Province 3 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the northern and central Maryland counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington...
and was ordained deacon on Dec. 23, 1855.
Priesthood
Grafton began his ordained ministry as assistant at Reisterstown, Maryland and on May 30, 1858, he was ordained priest and served as curate at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Baltimore, and chaplain of the deaconesses of the Diocese of Maryland. At the close of the Civil War he went to England and with Richard Meux BensonRichard Meux Benson
Richard Meux Benson was a priest in the Church of England and founder of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, the first religious order of monks in the Anglican Communion since the Reformation...
and Simeon Wilberforce O'Neill he co-founded the Society of St. John the Evangelist
Society of St. John the Evangelist
The Society of St John the Evangelist is an Anglican religious order for men. The members live under a rule of life and, at profession, make monastic vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience. The SSJE was founded in 1866 at Cowley, Oxford, England, by the Father Richard Meux Benson, a priest in the...
, also known as the Cowley Fathers. Grafton returned to the United States, and in 1872 became fourth Rector of Church of the Advent, Boston. A jurisdictional dispute concerning Grafton's overseas religious superior led to his withdrawal from SSJE. Bishop Grafton also helped establish the American Congregation of Saint Benedict (now known as The Benedictine Order of St John the Beloved) and in 1888 he was a founder of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity, along with Mother Ruth Margaret.
Episcopate
Grafton was consecrated on December 15, 1888 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin by William E. McLaren of ChicagoEpiscopal Diocese of Chicago
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
, Alexander Burgess of Quincy
Episcopal Diocese of Quincy
The Diocese of Quincy is an Anglican diocese in western Illinois, United States. It is a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America...
, and George F. Seymour 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...
. During his tenure as Bishop, Grafton spearheaded a great expansion the Diocese of Fond du Lac
Episcopal 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...
, much of it driven by contributing much of his own personal wealth and soliciting contributions from many of his wealthy friends back east. He also left behind a legacy of printed works, sermons and essays.
In 1900 Grafton was chief consecrator of Reginald Heber Weller
Reginald Heber Weller
The son of an Episcopal clergyman, Reginald Heber Weller was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, USA, on November 6, 1857. He was educated in Florida where his family moved when he was a boy. After attending the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, Bishop Weller received his degree of...
as bishop coadjutor of Fond Du Lac. The liturgy of the consecration was controversial. The Russian Orthodox bishop of Alaska, Saint Tikhon was present as well as Rt. Rev. Anthony Kozlowski of the Polish National Catholic Church
Polish National Catholic Church
The Polish National Catholic Church is a Christian church founded and based in the United States by Polish-Americans who were Roman Catholic. The PNCC is a breakaway Catholic Church in dialogue with the Catholic Church; it seeks full communion with the Holy See although it differs theologically...
. Bishop Grafton was photographed with these other bishops wearing copes and miters (which was not widely accepted in the Episcopal Church at that time). The photo became known as the "Fond du Lac Circus".
Veneration
Grafton is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA)Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church in the United States of America)
The veneration of saints in the Episcopal Church is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early Church which honors important people of the Christian faith. The usage of the term "saint" is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Those in the Anglo-Catholic tradition may...
on August 30.
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
- A Sketch-book of the American Episcopate, by Hermon Griswold Batterson (Philadelphia: J.P. Lippencott Company, 1891)
- The Episcopate in America, by William Stevens Perry (New York: The Christian Literature Company, 1895)
- The Catholic Movement in the American Episcopal Church (2nd Ed) by George DeMille (Philadelphia: Church Historical Society, 1950)
- A History of the Episcopal Church by Robert Prichard (Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Pub., 1999)
External links
- Documents by and about Grafton 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...
- Fond Du Lac Circus from the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du LacEpiscopal Diocese of Fond du LacThe 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...
- Bishop Grafton Institute
- Charles Chapman Grafton, Second Bishop of Fond du Lac from The Living ChurchThe Living ChurchThe Living Church is a biweekly magazine based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin providing commentary and news information on the Episcopal Church in the United States...
, by Richard Mammana