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The Most Reverend Frank Griswold
25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Griswold in 2007
Church	Episcopal Church
Elected	July 21, 1997
In office	1998–2006
Predecessor	Edmond L. Browning
Successor	Katharine Jefferts Schori
Other post(s)	Bishop of Chicago (1987–1998) Coadjutor Bishop of Chicago (1985–1987)
Orders
Ordination	June 23, 1963 by J. Gillespie Armstrong
Consecration	March 2, 1985 by John Allin
Personal details
Born	(1937-09-18)September 18, 1937 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 5, 2023(2023-03-05) (aged 85) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Phoebe Wetzel
Children	Eliza Griswold Hannah McFarland
Alma mater	Harvard University (BA) Oriel College, Oxford (BA)

Frank Tracy Griswold III (September 18, 1937 – March 5, 2023) was an American clergyman who served as the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Early life and education

Griswold was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and educated at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He studied at Harvard College, where he majored in English literature, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree in 1959. He trained for ordination at the General Theological Seminary and also earned a further BA degree in theology from Oriel College, Oxford in 1962: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1966.

Ordained ministry

Griswold was ordained as a deacon on December 15, 1962, by Andrew Tsu and as a priest on June 23, 1963 by J. Gillespie Armstrong. He then served at three parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, including St Andrew's Church in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and St Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1976 until his nomination as Bishop of Chicago. He was consecrated a bishop on March 2, 1985, by John Allin; upon which he became coadjutor bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. He was Bishop of Chicago from 1987 until he became the presiding bishop in 1998.

Griswold was co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission from 1998 to 2003. He was a member of the standing committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference. He also served on diocesan, national, and international committees for liturgy, worship, and ecumenism. He was interested in interfaith dialogue and sat on the board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.

In 2003, Griswold supported the successful appointment of Gene Robinson as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, making Robinson the denomination's first openly gay bishop. Griswold presided over Robinson's ordination ceremony. Due to threats of violence, there was a heavy security presence and both men wore bulletproof vests.

Griswold's term as presiding bishop ended on November 1, 2006. He was succeeded by Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to become a primate in the Anglican Communion. He continued a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, lecturing and leading retreats, nationally and internationally. Following completion of his term as presiding bishop, he served as a visiting professor at seminaries and universities in South Korea, Cuba and Japan, as well as at the Episcopal Divinity School and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Virginia Theological Seminary and Seabury-Western. He also served as bishop visitor to the Society of St. John the Evangelist.

He was the author of Going Home: An Invitation to Jubilee (2000), Tracking Down the Holy Ghost: Reflections on Love and Longing (2017) and Praying Our Days: A Guide and Companion (2018) and, with the Rev. Mark McIntosh, the co-author of Seeds of Faith: Theology and Spirituality at the Heart of Christian Belief and Harvest of Hope: A Contemplative Approach to Holy Scripture (both 2022).

Personal life and death

Griswold and his wife, Phoebe Wetzel Griswold, lived in Philadelphia. They had two daughters, Eliza and Hannah. He was a cousin of both Sheldon M. Griswold and Alexander Viets Griswold, both Episcopal bishops.

Griswold died from respiratory failure at a hospital in Philadelphia on March 5, 2023, at the age of 85.

Honors

He has received honorary degrees from the General Theological Seminary, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Nashotah House, Sewanee, Rikkyo University and Berkeley Divinity School, the Virginia Theological Seminary, Seminary of the Southwest and Episcopal Divinity School. He was also made an Associate Sub Prelate of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Consecrators

• John M. Allin, 23rd Presiding Bishop
• Francis G. Burrill, 8th Bishop of Chicago
• James W. Montgomery, 9th Bishop of Chicago

Griswold was the 794th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.

See also

• List of presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
• List of Episcopal bishops of the United States
• Historical list of the Episcopal bishops of the United States

References

1. Prichard, Robert W.; Pub Co, Morehouse (1999). A history of the Episcopal Church. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Pub. p. 343. ISBN 0-8192-1828-6.
2. Webber, Christopher (2004). Give us grace: an anthology of Anglican prayers. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Pub. p. 445. ISBN 0-8192-1962-2.
3. "Ramallah school shut down: (Frank) Griswold files complaint". Anglican Journal. February 1, 2002. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. Doyle, C. Andrew (March 8, 2008). "Why Elect A Young Bishop?". texasbishop.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
6. ^ "Frank T. Griswold III, 25th presiding bishop, dies at 85". Episcopal News Service. March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
7. "The Rt Revd Bishop Griswold of the Episcopal Church". Oriel College. University of Oxford. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
8. ^ "Clergy QuickFind: Frank Tracy Griswold III". Episcopal Clerical Directory. Church Pension Group. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
9. The Elijah Interfaith Institute - Christian Members of the Board of World Religious Leaders
10. ^ Roberts, Sam (March 5, 2023). "Frank T. Griswold III, Bridge-Building Bishop, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
11. "Frank T. Griswold III, 25th presiding bishop, dies at 85". Episcopal News Service. March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
12. "No. 54940". The London Gazette. November 6, 1997. p. 12485.

External links

• episcopalchurch.org List of Presiding Bishops

• 1937 births
• 2023 deaths
• Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford
• Deaths from respiratory failure
• Episcopal bishops of Chicago
• Harvard College alumni
• Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
• St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni
• 20th-century Anglican theologians
• 21st-century Anglican theologians