Reginald Heber Weller
Encyclopedia
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 Bachelor of Divinity
at Nashotah House
in 1884. He was ordained deacon
in 1880. He was ordained a priest
in 1884 at All Saints’ Mission, Providence, Rhode Island
after serving his diaconate there. Bishop Weller was married to Bessie Brown in 1886 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
, and together they had one daughter, Ruth, and five sons, Daniel, George, Walter, Horace and Reginald.
in 1900.
. Bishops Grafton and Weller were photographed with these and other bishops wearing cope
s and mitre
s, a "Catholic" practice which was not widely accepted in the "Protestant" Episcopal Church at that time. The photo, published widely back east, became known as the Fond du Lac Circus.
on August 30, 1912, after the death of Bishop Grafton
. He held the position of Superior General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
from 1913-35, succeeding Bishop Grafton who held the office from 1890-1912.
In 1919, Bishop Weller was a member of the Commission on Faith and Order, which went abroad for a world conference on the fundamentals of the Christian religion seeking to restore communion between the Eastern Orthodox Church
, Roman and Anglican. Attendants at the Lambeth Conference in 1930 found Bishop Weller taking an active part in its deliberations and preaching in several English cathedrals. At home or abroad, Bishop Weller was a defender of the faith, a stirring, convincing preacher of great ability, a wise pastor, generous friend and a man of God.
Bishop Weller held many preaching missions, especially in the eastern United States. He took an active and influential part in the deliberations of the House of Bishops
. On St. Andrew’s Day, November 30, 1929, Bishop Weller acted as the chief consecrator at the consecration of the Rev. Harwood Sturtevant
as the Bishop Coadjutor of the diocese. Four years later in November 1933, Bishop Sturtevant succeeded Bishop Weller as the fourth bishop of the diocese. He died on November 22, 1935, at the home of his son, George in Aurora, Illinois
.
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
, 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
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...
, Bishop Weller received his degree of Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
at Nashotah House
Nashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
in 1884. He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1880. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1884 at All Saints’ Mission, Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
after serving his diaconate there. Bishop Weller was married to Bessie Brown in 1886 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, and together they had one daughter, Ruth, and five sons, Daniel, George, Walter, Horace and Reginald.
Priesthood
Rectorships at Christ Church, Eau Claire, and St. Matthias, Waukesha, were served before he became rector at Church of the Intercession, Stevens Point, where he was at the time of his election to be Bishop Coadjutor of the DioceseEpiscopal 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 1900.
Election as Bishop
He was consecrated coadjutor on November 8, 1900, at the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle in Fond du Lac. The Russian Orthodox bishop of Alaska, Saint Tikhon, was present as well as Rt. Rev. Anthony Kozlowski of the Polish National Catholic ChurchPolish 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...
. Bishops Grafton and Weller were photographed with these and other bishops wearing cope
Cope
The cope is a liturgical vestment, a very long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colour....
s and mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
s, a "Catholic" practice which was not widely accepted in the "Protestant" Episcopal Church at that time. The photo, published widely back east, became known as the Fond du Lac Circus.
Service as Bishop
During his thirty-three years of active service, a longer episcopate than any other in the state at the time, Bishop Weller preached in all parts of the country. He held many positions of importance in the church and became widely known in England. He became diocesanDiocesan 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....
on August 30, 1912, after the death of Bishop Grafton
Charles Chapman Grafton
The Right Reverend Charles Chapman Grafton was the second Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac in The Episcopal Church.-Early Life:...
. He held the position of Superior General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament
The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament is a devotional society in the Anglican Communion dedicated to venerating the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist...
from 1913-35, succeeding Bishop Grafton who held the office from 1890-1912.
In 1919, Bishop Weller was a member of the Commission on Faith and Order, which went abroad for a world conference on the fundamentals of the Christian religion seeking to restore communion between the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
, Roman and Anglican. Attendants at the Lambeth Conference in 1930 found Bishop Weller taking an active part in its deliberations and preaching in several English cathedrals. At home or abroad, Bishop Weller was a defender of the faith, a stirring, convincing preacher of great ability, a wise pastor, generous friend and a man of God.
Bishop Weller held many preaching missions, especially in the eastern United States. He took an active and influential part in the deliberations of the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
. On St. Andrew’s Day, November 30, 1929, Bishop Weller acted as the chief consecrator at the consecration of the Rev. Harwood Sturtevant
Harwood Sturtevant
Harwood Sturtevant was the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA.-Early Life:Born June 30, 1888, in Michigan, Harwood Sturtevant grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin where he graduated high school...
as the Bishop Coadjutor of the diocese. Four years later in November 1933, Bishop Sturtevant succeeded Bishop Weller as the fourth bishop of the diocese. He died on November 22, 1935, at the home of his son, George in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
.
See also
- List 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:...