Thomas Atkinson (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Atkinson was the third Episcopal
Bishop of North Carolina
.
, the son of Robert Atkinson and Mary (Mayo) Atkinson. He attended Yale University
and Hampden-Sydney College
, graduating from the latter in 1825. Upon graduation, he studied under Judge Henry St. George Tucker
and practiced law for eight years before turning to theology. In 1828 he married Josepha Gwinn Wilder, with whom he had three children.
Atkinson was ordained deacon in 1836, and ordained priest the following year. As deacon, Davis Served as assistant minister at Christ Church in Norfolk, Virginia
. After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of St. Paul's Church
in Norfolk. In 1839, he moved to Lynchburg to become rector of St. Paul's Church
in that town, remaining there for five years.
In 1843, Atkinson moved again, to Maryland, where he became the rector of St. Peter's Church in Baltimore
. In 1843 and 1846, he was elected bishop of Indiana
, declining the honor both times. In 1852, he became rector of Grace Church in the same city, having organized the new parish himself.
, Charles Pettit McIlvaine
, and George Washington Doane
. As bishop, Atkinson founded a church school for boys in Raleigh and the Ravenscroft School
in Asheville. He urged the religious instruction of slaves. He opposed secession in the American Civil War
, but after the fact he adhered to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America.
After the war, in 1866, Atkinson placed the operation of black Episcopal churches fully in the hands of black clergymen. Two years later, he opened the Episcopal school for blacks near Raleigh that eventually became St. Augustine's College. In 1867, he attended the first Lambeth Conference at Lambeth Palace
in 1867. As his health declined, Atkinson requested the assistance of a coadjutor bishop
, and Theodore Benedict Lyman
was elected to that position in 1873. He died in 1881 and was buried at St. James Episcopal Church
in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Bishop of North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
.
Early life
Atkinson was born in Dinwiddie County, VirginiaDinwiddie County, Virginia
Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,001. Its county seat is Dinwiddie.- History :...
, the son of Robert Atkinson and Mary (Mayo) Atkinson. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, graduating from the latter in 1825. Upon graduation, he studied under Judge Henry St. George Tucker
Henry St. George Tucker, Sr.
Henry St. George Tucker, Sr. was a Virginia jurist, law professor, and U.S. Congressman .-Biography:Tucker was born in Williamsburg, Virginia on December 29, 1780. As a young man, Tucker pursued classical studies at the College of William & Mary; he graduated in 1798...
and practiced law for eight years before turning to theology. In 1828 he married Josepha Gwinn Wilder, with whom he had three children.
Atkinson was ordained deacon in 1836, and ordained priest the following year. As deacon, Davis Served as assistant minister at Christ Church in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of St. Paul's Church
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (Norfolk, Virginia)
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church is a historic church in Norfolk, Virginia. Built in 1739, it is the sole colonial-era building which survived the various wars that Norfolk has witnessed. The church has played host to several different denominations throughout its history...
in Norfolk. In 1839, he moved to Lynchburg to become rector of St. Paul's Church
St. Paul's Church (Lynchburg, Virginia)
St. Paul's Church is a historic Episcopal church located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is constructed of gray granite, quarried in southwest Virginia, and is trimmed with brownstone. The building is of Richardsonian Romanesque design. The church houses Lynchburg's oldest Episcopal parish, which was...
in that town, remaining there for five years.
In 1843, Atkinson moved again, to Maryland, where he became the rector of St. Peter's Church in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. In 1843 and 1846, he was elected bishop of Indiana
Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana, is a diocese in Province V of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state of Indiana. Its see is in Indianapolis, Indiana at Christ Church...
, declining the honor both times. In 1852, he became rector of Grace Church in the same city, having organized the new parish himself.
Bishop of North Carolina
Davis was elected Bishop of North Carolina in 1853, following a sharply divided convention. He was the 58th bishop in the ECUSA, and was consecrated by Bishops Thomas Church BrownellThomas Church Brownell
Thomas Church Brownell was founder of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1852 until his death....
, Charles Pettit McIlvaine
Charles Pettit McIlvaine
Charles Pettit McIlvaine was an Episcopalian bishop, author, educator and twice Chaplain of the United States Senate.-Early life and family:...
, and George Washington Doane
George Washington Doane
George Washington Doane was a United States churchman, educator, and bishop in the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey.-Biography:Doane was born in Trenton, New Jersey...
. As bishop, Atkinson founded a church school for boys in Raleigh and the Ravenscroft School
Ravenscroft School
Ravenscroft School is an independent, formerly Episcopal, college preparatory school located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It enrolls students from pre-school through grade 12...
in Asheville. He urged the religious instruction of slaves. He opposed secession in the American Civil War
American 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...
, but after the fact he adhered to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America.
After the war, in 1866, Atkinson placed the operation of black Episcopal churches fully in the hands of black clergymen. Two years later, he opened the Episcopal school for blacks near Raleigh that eventually became St. Augustine's College. In 1867, he attended the first Lambeth Conference at Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
in 1867. As his health declined, Atkinson requested the assistance of a coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
, and Theodore Benedict Lyman
Theodore Benedict Lyman
Theodore Benedict Lyman , was the fourth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. He was born in Brighton, Massachusetts. Father of William Whittingham Lyman...
was elected to that position in 1873. He died in 1881 and was buried at St. James Episcopal Church
St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)
St. James Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church in the historic district of Wilmington, North Carolina. The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and is the oldest church in the city of Wilmington.- History :...
in Wilmington, North Carolina.