George Rath
George Edward Rath (March 29, 1913 – November 18, 1995) was the seventh Bishop of Newark.
The Right Reverend George Edward Rath S.T.D. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Newark | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Newark |
| In office | 1974-1979 |
| Predecessor | Leland Stark |
| Successor | John Shelby Spong |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 1939 by William T. Manning |
| Consecration | March 6, 1964 by Arthur C. Lichtenberger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1913 Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Died | November 18, 1995 (aged 82) Brewster, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Edward Fritz Rath & Eudora Pearl Chadderdon |
| Spouse | Margaret Webber |
| Children | 2 |
| Previous post | Suffragan Bishop of Newark (1964-1970) Coadjutor Bishop of Newark (1970-1974) |
Biography
Rath was born in Buffalo, New York, and ordained as a deacon in 1938. He was ordained as a priest in 1939 for the Diocese of New York where he served as college chaplain for Columbia University and New York University.[1] In 1941 he became the vicar of All Saints Church in Millington, New Jersey. He later became the rector of the church and then the Archdeacon of Morris County. He was elected suffragan bishop of Newark in 1964 when he succeeded Donald MacAdie. He was consecrated by Arthur C. Lichtenberger.[2]
A cum laude alumnus of Harvard University and the Union Theological Seminary, he was elected coadjutor bishop on May 2, 1970. He became diocesan bishop in 1974 and retired in 1978.[1] As bishop, he championed the causes of the civil rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement, the ordination of women, and prayer book reform.[1]
He and his wife, Margaret, had two children.[1]
References
- "Retired Newark Bishop Rath Dies". The Archives of the Episcopal Church.
- "Suffragan Bishop is Consecrated". The New York Times. New York, New York. March 7, 1964. Retrieved September 10, 2018.