Frederic C. Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Frederic C. Lawrence was suffragan bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
(1956–68). Frederic's father, William Lawrence, was the seventh bishop of the diocese (1893–1927).
Bishop Lawrence was the grandson of the notable abolishionist Amos Adams Lawrence
and a member of the influential Boston Family
, founded by his great-great-grandfather and American revolutionary Samuel Lawrence
; his great-grandfather was the famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence
.
, where he became rector
of St. Peter's Church. The Rev. Lawrence was later appointed rector of St. Paul's Church in nearby Brookline
.
Rev. Lawrence earned his D.D.
from Harvard Divinity School
in 1937 and was elected Suffragan Bishop in 1956, a position which he held in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts until his retiremenet in 1968. Bishop Lawrence was also active with the Episcopal chaplaincy at Harvard and was a trustee of Milton Academy
and the American University of Beirut
.
Bishop Lawrence's brother, William Appleton Lawrence
was the third Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
(1925–41).
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of MassachusettsThe Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is one of the nine original dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America....
(1956–68). Frederic's father, William Lawrence, was the seventh bishop of the diocese (1893–1927).
Bishop Lawrence was the grandson of the notable abolishionist Amos Adams Lawrence
Amos Adams Lawrence
Amos Adams Lawrence , the son of famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence, was a key figure in the United States abolition movement in the years leading up to the Civil War, and instrumental in the establishment of the University of Kansas and Lawrence University in Appleton,...
and a member of the influential Boston Family
Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmins are wealthy Yankee families characterized by a highly discreet and inconspicuous life style. Based in and around Boston, they form an integral part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment...
, founded by his great-great-grandfather and American revolutionary Samuel Lawrence
Samuel Lawrence (revolutionary)
Samuel Lawrence was an American revolutionary from Groton, Massachusetts.Samuel Lawrence fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill under Henry Farwell who was killed there. Samuel served in the army for 3 and half years from 1775 to 1778, and rose within the U.S. Army to the rank of major. While in the...
; his great-grandfather was the famed philanthropist Amos Lawrence
Amos Lawrence
Amos Lawrence, was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Biography:...
.
Education and career
Frederic Cunningham Lawrence became a priest in 1925 after graduating from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, where he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Peter's Church. The Rev. Lawrence was later appointed rector of St. Paul's Church in nearby Brookline
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
.
Rev. Lawrence earned his D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
in 1937 and was elected Suffragan Bishop in 1956, a position which he held in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts until his retiremenet in 1968. Bishop Lawrence was also active with the Episcopal chaplaincy at Harvard and was a trustee of Milton Academy
Milton Academy
Milton Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered starting in 9th grade...
and the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
.
Bishop Lawrence's brother, William Appleton Lawrence
William Appleton Lawrence
William Appleton Lawrence was the third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts . His father, William Lawrence, was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts ....
was the third 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 Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of...
(1925–41).