Alexander Viets Griswold

Alexander Viets Griswold (April 22, 1766 – February 15, 1843) was the 5th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States from 1836 till 1843. He was also the Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, which included all of New England with the exception of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. Griswold was an evangelical Episcopalian.

The Most Reverend

Alexander Viets Griswold
5th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
ChurchEpiscopal Church
In office1836-1843
PredecessorWilliam White
SuccessorPhilander Chase
Other postsBishop of Massachusetts (1811-1843)
Bishop of Rhode Island (1811-1843)
Orders
OrdinationOctober 1, 1795
by Samuel Seabury
ConsecrationMay 31, 1811
by William White
Personal details
Born(1766-04-22)April 22, 1766
Simsbury, Connecticut Colony
DiedFebruary 15, 1843(1843-02-15) (aged 76)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
BuriedOld Village Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsElisha Griswold & Eunice Viets
SpouseElizabeth Mitchelson
Children12
Alma materBrown University, Princeton University, Harvard University

Biography

Born in Simsbury, Connecticut, as the son of Elisha Griswold and Eunice Viets. Griswold died in Boston, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Mitchelson on 6 May 1785 or 1786 at Scotland (now Bloomfield), Connecticut. They had 12 children. His sister was the painter Eunice Pinney.[1]

Griswold received the degree of D.D. from Brown in 1810, from Princeton in 1811, and from Harvard in 1812.

Griswold was ordained deacon on June 7, 1795, and priest on October 1, 1795. Griswold served three small churches in Litchfield County and also taught school. Griswold was chosen rector of St. Michael's Church, Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1804. He was elected bishop and consecrated on May 31, 1811. As the eldest serving bishop, he also served as the Episcopal Church's fifth Presiding Bishop from July 17, 1836, until his death.

Griswold also served as Chancellor of Brown University from 1815 to 1828.[2][3] He was a cousin of both Frank Griswold and Sheldon M. Griswold, both Episcopal bishops.

Works

Griswold wrote the hymn Holy Father, great Creator. He also published Discourses on the Most Important Doctrines and Duties of the Christian Religion (1830); The Reformation and the Apostolic Office (1843); and Remarks on Social Prayer Meetings (1858). His memoirs were published by Dr. J. S. Stone. Some of his papers and a lock of his hair are stored in the University Library, University of Rhode Island.

Honors

The former Griswold College in Davenport, Iowa, was named in honor of Griswold.

See also

References
  1. Black, Mary, and Jean Lipman (1966). American Folk Painting. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc./Publisher, p. 98.
  2. Greene, Welcome Arnold (1886). The Providence Plantations for 250 Years. Providence, RI: J.A. & R.A. Reid. p. 148. Chancellor of Brown University 1815-1831
  3. Mitchell, Martha (1993). Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Brown University Library. Retrieved 22 March 2015. Alexander Viets Griswold (1815-1828) was Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Massachusetts

Further reading
Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by
William White		 5th Presiding Bishop
1836–1843		 Succeeded by
Philander Chase
Preceded by
Samuel Parker		 Bishop of Massachusetts
1811–1843		 Succeeded by
Manton Eastburn
Preceded by
Edward Bass		 Bishop of Rhode Island
1811–1843		 Succeeded by
John Prentiss Kewly Henshaw
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