Richard Channing Moore
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Richard Channing Moore (August 21, 1762 – November 11, 1841) was the second bishop
of the Diocese of Virginia
(1814-1841).
. His classical education
at King's College
began at age eight, but was interrupted when the American Revolutionary war
compelled his family to move to West Point, New York
. After an experiment with life at sea
, he began at age 16 to study medicine
under Dr. Richard Bayley
in New York. He practiced medicine until 1787.
Moore married Christian Jones (1769 - April 20, 1796) of New York in 1784, who bore him five children. On March 23, 1797 he wed Sarah Mersereau (died August 1824) of Staten Island
, who bore him six more.
Bishop Samuel Provoost
ordained him to the diaconate
in July, 1787, at St. George's Church
, New York City
. In September 1787 he was admitted to the priest
hood. He was rector of Grace Church, Rye, New York until 1788. He then served as rector of St. Andrew's
, Staten Island
, (1789-1809), St. Stephen's, New York (1809-1814), and Monumental Church
, Richmond, Virginia
, from October 1814 until November 1841. St. Stephens had about thirty families when he arrived, and over four hundred communicants when he resigned. Bushrod Washington
and Edmund L. Lee and others wrote him letters urging him to come to Richmond.
He was a delegate to the May, 1808, General Convention
where he served on a committee that added to the hymnal
He was president of the Virginia branch of the American Bible Society
. He led the diocese during the formation of the Virginia Theological Seminary
.
Moore was elected bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, succeeding James Madison
, and consecrated May 18, 1814, in St. James's Church
, Philadelphia. Richard Channing Moore was the 14th
bishop
consecrated in the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Virginia was extremely weak when Moore became bishop. During his tenure it strengthened greatly, with a major increase in clergy and membership.
He died in Lynchburg, Virginia
, while visiting parishes in the diocese and is buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
|title=History of the Theological seminary in Virginia and its historical background |edition=Centennial |location=New York
|publisher=E.S. Gorham |year=1923}}}}
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 Diocese of Virginia
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
The Diocese of Virginia is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing 38 counties in the northern and central parts of the state of Virginia. The diocese was organized in 1785 and is one of the Episcopal Church's nine original dioceses. However, the diocese has...
(1814-1841).
Life and career
Bishop Moore was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His classical education
Classical education movement
The Classical education movement advocates a form of education based in the traditions of Western culture, with a particular focus on education as understood and taught in the Middle Ages. The curricula and pedagogy of classical education was first developed during the Middle Ages by Martianus...
at King's College
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
began at age eight, but was interrupted when the American Revolutionary war
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
compelled his family to move to West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. After an experiment with life at sea
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, he began at age 16 to study medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
under Dr. Richard Bayley
Richard Bayley
Richard Bayley was a New York City physician and chief health officer.-Biography:He was born in 1745 in Fairfield, Connecticut. In 1766 he was apprenticed to John Charlton. Charlton was a physician who lived and worked in New York City. Bayley married John's sister, Catherine Charlton and had...
in New York. He practiced medicine until 1787.
Moore married Christian Jones (1769 - April 20, 1796) of New York in 1784, who bore him five children. On March 23, 1797 he wed Sarah Mersereau (died August 1824) of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, who bore him six more.
Bishop Samuel Provoost
Samuel Provoost
Samuel Provoost was the third Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA, as well as the first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. He was consecrated as bishop of New York in 1787 with Bishop William White. He was born in New York City, of Huguenot descent, in 1742, and educated at...
ordained him to the diaconate
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 July, 1787, at St. George's Church
St. George's Church (New York City)
St. George's Church is a Ukrainian Catholic church located in the East Village, Manhattan of New York City on E. 7th Street at the southeast corner of Hall Place.-Buildings:...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In September 1787 he was admitted to the 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...
hood. He was rector of Grace Church, Rye, New York until 1788. He then served as rector of St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's Church (Staten Island, New York)
The Church of St. Andrew is an historic Episcopal church located at Arthur Kill and Old Mill Roads on the north side of Richmondtown in Staten Island, New York....
, Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, (1789-1809), St. Stephen's, New York (1809-1814), and Monumental Church
Monumental Church
Monumental Church is a former Episcopal Church that stands at 1224 E. Broad Street between N. 12th and College Streets in Richmond, Virginia. Designed by architect Robert Mills, it is one of America's earliest and most distinctive Greek Revival churches and is listed on the National Register of...
, Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, from October 1814 until November 1841. St. Stephens had about thirty families when he arrived, and over four hundred communicants when he resigned. Bushrod Washington
Bushrod Washington
Bushrod Washington was a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice and the nephew of George Washington.Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and was the son of John Augustine Washington, brother of the first president. Bushrod attended Delamere, an academy administered by the Rev....
and Edmund L. Lee and others wrote him letters urging him to come to Richmond.
He was a delegate to the May, 1808, General Convention
General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The General Convention is the primary governing and legislative body of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. With the exception of the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons, it is the ultimate authority in the Episcopal Church. General Convention...
where he served on a committee that added to the hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
He was president of the Virginia branch of the American Bible Society
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
. He led the diocese during the formation of the Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
.
Moore was elected bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, succeeding James Madison
James Madison (Episcopal Bishop)
James Madison was the first bishop of the Diocese of Virginia of The Episcopal Church in the United States, one of the first bishops to be consecrated to the new church after the American Revolution...
, and consecrated May 18, 1814, in St. James's Church
Church of St. James the Less
The Church of St. James the Less is a historic Episcopal church building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was architecturally influential. As St...
, Philadelphia. Richard Channing Moore was the 14th
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...
consecrated in the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Virginia was extremely weak when Moore became bishop. During his tenure it strengthened greatly, with a major increase in clergy and membership.
He died in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, while visiting parishes in the diocese and is buried at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
Consecrators
- The Most Reverend William WhiteWilliam White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
, fourth presiding bishopPresiding BishopThe Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
of the Episcopal Church - The Right Reverend John Henry HobartJohn Henry HobartJohn Henry Hobart was the third Episcopal bishop of New York .He vigorously promoted the extension of the Episcopal Church in Central and Western New York...
, third bishop of New YorkEpiscopal Diocese of New YorkThe Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, and the New York state counties of Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and... - The Right Reverend Alexander Viets GriswoldAlexander Viets GriswoldAlexander Viets Griswold was the Episcopal Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, which included all of New England with the exception of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut....
, bishop of the Eastern DioceseEpiscopal Eastern DioceseThe Eastern Diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America combined the territories of the states of Massachusetts , Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont under the supervision of a single bishop. It was organized in 1811 at a convention called under the influence of the church...
Further reading
|editor1-last=Goodwin |editor1-first=William Archer Rutherfoord|title=History of the Theological seminary in Virginia and its historical background |edition=Centennial |location=New York
|publisher=E.S. Gorham |year=1923}}}}