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 | |
 | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Elected | October 1973 |
| In office | 1974-1985 |
| Predecessor | John E. Hines |
| Successor | Edmond L. Browning |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 10, 1945 by Richard Bland Mitchell |
| Consecration | October 28, 1961 by Arthur C. Lichtenberger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 22, 1921 Helena, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | March 6, 1998 (aged 76) Jackson, Mississippi, United States |
| Buried | University of the South Cemetery, Sewanee, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Richard Allin & Dora Harper |
| Spouse | Frances Ann Kelly |
| Children | 4 |
| Previous post | Coadjutor Bishop of Mississippi (1961-1966) Bishop of Mississippi (1966-1974) |
| Alma mater | Sewanee: 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
- Christian, Nichole M. (March 9, 1998). "Bishop John Allin, Who Led Episcopalians, Is Dead at 77". New York Times.
- 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. |
Authority control  |
|---|