The Right Reverend

Thomas Frederick Davies Sr.

D.D., LL.D.
Bishop of Michigan
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseMichigan
Elected1889
In office1889–1905
PredecessorSamuel Smith Harris
SuccessorCharles D. Williams
Orders
OrdinationMay 27, 1857
by John Williams
ConsecrationOctober 18, 1889
by John Williams
Personal details
Born(1831-08-31)August 31, 1831
Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedNovember 9, 1905(1905-11-09) (aged 74)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
BuriedElmwood Cemetery, Detroit
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsThomas Frederick Davies & Julia Sanford
Spouse
Mary L. Hackstaff
​
(m. 1862)​
ChildrenAnna Hackstaff, Marion Sanford, Thomas Frederick Davies Jr.
Alma materHopkins Grammar School, Yale University, Berkeley Divinity School, University of Pennsylvania, Hobart College
SignatureThomas Frederick Davies Sr.'s signature

Thomas Frederick Davies Sr. (August 31, 1831 – November 9, 1905) was the third Bishop of Michigan in the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Personal

Davies was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, on August 31, 1831, to Thomas Frederick and Julia Sanford Davies. He was of Welsh descent and raised in Fairfield.[1] Davies prepared for college at Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, Connecticut. He entered Yale University in 1849, where he was close friends with George Shiras Jr. and Andrew Dickson White, and graduated in 1853. He studied at Berkeley Divinity School under Bishop John Williams. Davies lived with Bishop Williams for six years, became his secretary, and remained close friends until the death of Bishop Williams.[2] In 1871, he received a Doctor of Divinity from the University of Pennsylvania; a Legum Doctor from Hobart College in 1889; and a Legum Doctor from Yale University in 1893.[3] Davies married Mary L. Hackstaff on April 29, 1862.[4]

He died of pneumonia at his home in Detroit on November 9, 1905, and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery on November 13.[5] He was survived by his wife and his children, Anna Hackstaff, Marion Sanford, and Thomas Frederick Davies Jr. - who was serving as rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Worcester, Massachusetts,[6] and would go on to become the second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.

Professional

Davies was ordained a deacon on May 18, 1856, by Bishop Williams at the Christ Church in Middletown, Connecticut, and priest on May 27, 1857. He was professor in Hebrew at the Berkeley Divinity School from 1857 to 1863.[1][3][4]

He served as rector at St. John's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from 1863 to 1868, before becoming rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until 1889.[3][4][6] During his tenure at St. Peter's, 3,000 people were baptized, 1,000 people were confirmed, the church's endowment fund was created, the St. Peter's House was established, two churches were built, and US$700,000 (equivalent to $22,799,259 in 2022) were contributed for church purposes.[2]

He was consecrated at St. Peter's as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan on St. Luke's Day, October 18, 1889, and served in that position until his death.[2][4][6] During his tenure, the value of the Diocese's property increased from US$1,411,705 (equivalent to $45,979,755 in 2022) to US$1,908,369 (equivalent to $62,156,285 in 2022); disbursements increased from US$204,603 (equivalent to $6,663,995 in 2022) to US$240,803 (equivalent to $7,843,043 in 2022); communicants increased from 12,214 to 17,716; and confirmations increased from 1,112 in 1888 to 1,198 in 1905.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Journal of the 72nd Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Michigan. Detroit: Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. 1905. p. 186. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 Todd, Charles Burr (1906). The History of Redding, Connecticut, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time. Grafton Press. pp. 162–163.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Michigan Churchman. Detroit: Michigan Churchman Company. 1911.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Universities and Their Sons. R. Herndon Company. 1899. p. 312.
  5. ↑ Journal of the 72nd Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Michigan. Detroit: Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. 1905. p. 58. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Google Books.
  6. 1 2 3 "Death of Bishop Davies" (PDF). The New York Times. Detroit. November 10, 1905. p. 9. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
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