John W. Beckwith
Encyclopedia
John Watrous Beckwith was the Second Bishop of Georgia
. He was the 86th
bishop
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA).
, he served in North Carolina and Maryland. During the war, he served as a chaplain on the staff of Confederate
General William J. Hardee
. Following the war, Beckwith served churches in Demopolis, Alabama and Deer Creek, Mississippi. Late in 1865 accepted a call to serve Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in New Orleans as its rector. He served that church for three years before being elected as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia.
He was consecrated as Bishop on April 2, 1868 in St. John's Church, Savannah
. Beckwith served as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
for 23 years during the difficult period of reconstruction. There were 31 churches in the diocese at the time of his consecration. At his death, there were 53 churches and five missions. In 1887-1888, Bishop Beckwith spent five months abroad preaching in Anglican Churches in Italy, France, England, Egypt and Palestine.
His final annual report came at the sixty eighth convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia held in Milledgeville
in May 1890. In his address at that convention he told the delegates,
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He was the 86th
Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States
This 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:...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA).
Life
Beckwith was graduated from Trinity College, Hartford in 1852 and two years later was ordained as a deacon and later priest in the Episcopal Church. Before the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, he served in North Carolina and Maryland. During the war, he served as a chaplain on the staff of Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General William J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
. Following the war, Beckwith served churches in Demopolis, Alabama and Deer Creek, Mississippi. Late in 1865 accepted a call to serve Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in New Orleans as its rector. He served that church for three years before being elected as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia.
He was consecrated as Bishop on April 2, 1868 in St. John's Church, Savannah
St. John's Church, Savannah
St. John's Church in Savannah is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.The church was formed in 1840 from the growing Christ Church, Savannah, as part of a plan to increase Episcopal presence in Georgia and to provide for a first bishop of the diocese. In addition to his Episcopal duties,...
. Beckwith served as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
Episcopal 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...
for 23 years during the difficult period of reconstruction. There were 31 churches in the diocese at the time of his consecration. At his death, there were 53 churches and five missions. In 1887-1888, Bishop Beckwith spent five months abroad preaching in Anglican Churches in Italy, France, England, Egypt and Palestine.
His final annual report came at the sixty eighth convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia held in Milledgeville
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
in May 1890. In his address at that convention he told the delegates,
I have not for years looked forward to the future with as much hope as now....All over the Diocese, among clergy and laity, there seems to be an increase in aggressive work on churchly lines.He died November 23, 1890.