John Allin

John Maury Allin (April 22, 1921 – March 6, 1998) was an American Episcopalian bishop who served as the 23rd Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1974 to 1985.


John Maury Allin
23rd Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
ChurchEpiscopal Church
ElectedOctober 1973
In office1974-1985
PredecessorJohn E. Hines
SuccessorEdmond L. Browning
Orders
OrdinationMay 10, 1945
by Richard Bland Mitchell
ConsecrationOctober 28, 1961
by Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Personal details
Born(1921-04-22)April 22, 1921
Helena, Arkansas, United States
DiedMarch 6, 1998(1998-03-06) (aged 76)
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
BuriedUniversity of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsRichard Allin & Dora Harper
SpouseFrances Ann Kelly
Children4
Previous postCoadjutor Bishop of Mississippi (1961-1966)
Bishop of Mississippi (1966-1974)
Alma materSewanee: The University of the South

Early life

Allin was born in Helena, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and its divinity school, then called St. Luke's Seminary, in 1945. He received a Master of Education degree in 1962 from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. He was ordained deacon on June 6, 1944 and priest on May 10, 1945. He served churches in Arkansas and Louisiana before becoming rector of All Saints' Junior College in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1958, a post he retained till 1961.

Bishop of Mississippi

He was bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Mississippi, with his consecration taking place at St. James Church in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1961 to 1966. He was elected bishop in 1966 and would serve until 1974. He was involved in the Civil Rights Movement, helping to create the Committee of Concern, an alliance of ecumenical and civic leaders that helped rebuild more than 100 black churches that had been bombed by white suprematists in Mississippi.

Presiding Bishop

He served until he was elected Presiding Bishop in 1974. In 1978, he offered to resign because of his opposition as a theological conservative to women's ordination, but he was persuaded to remain in office. He was the last Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to have opposed women's ordination and to have been pro-life on abortion. He retired in 1985.[1]

Retirement and personal life

After his term as Presiding Bishop, Allin was vicar at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport, Maine, where his friend George H. W. Bush was on the vestry.[2]

He was married to Ann; the couple had one son and three daughters.

Allin died in Jackson, Mississippi on March 6, 1998, aged 76.

See also

References

  1. Christian, Nichole M. (March 9, 1998). "Bishop John Allin, Who Led Episcopalians, Is Dead at 77". New York Times.
  2. Pearson, Richard (March 8, 1998). "Bishop John Allin Dies". Washington Post.
Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by
John Elbridge Hines
23rd Presiding Bishop
June 1, 1974 – December 31, 1985
Succeeded by
Edmond Lee Browning
Preceded by
Duncan Montgomery Gray, Sr.
6th Bishop of Mississippi
1966 – 1974
Succeeded by
Duncan Montgomery Gray, Jr.
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