Notes |
- Stowes Clerical Directory, (various)
- b. Hampton VA 31 Oct 1881
- UVA, BA 1903
- VTS 1908, DD-1933
- University of the South, DD-1939 (Sewanee TN)
- Deacon Jun1908, Priest Jun 1909
- Consecrated Bishop Upper South Carolina, 5 May 1939
- married Helen Stevens, 19 April 1922 - one child
- Stud Secy Bd Mssns N.Y. 1909-11
- In-C. Slaughter Parish, Rapidan, VA 1911-1912
- Rector Church of Ascension., Frankfort, Ky 1913-18
- Chaplain with Army in France 1918-1919
- Rector Trinity Church - Staunton VA 1919 - 39
--------------------------------------
. John J. Gravatt, Jr. (10/03/1881-10/14/1965), son of your -greatgrandfather, was, indeed a bishop, serving as Bishop of Upper South Carolina1939-1953. A graduate of UVA 1903 and VTS1908 (VTS DD 1933), he wasordained a deacon 06/19/1908 by Bishop George W. Peterkin of West Virginiaand ordained a priest by Bishop Robert A. Gibson of Virginia 06/18/1909.Accroding to his entry in the 1965 Clerical Directory, p. 149, his ministryprior to consecration as bishop was: 1908-09 Secretary, Church StudentMissionary Society; 1909-11, Student Secretary Board of Missionary, 1911-12,Rector, Slaughter Parish, Rapidan, VA; 1913-18, rector, Ascension Church,Frankfort, KY; 1918-19, Chaplain, USArmy; and 1918-39, Rector of TrinityChurch, Staunton, VA. He retired in 1953.
------------------------------
Extracted from "The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, No vol or date found
John James Gravatt, 1939-1953; Consecrated May 5, 1939, Trinity Church, Columbia
Bishop Gravatt entered office just as war was breaking out in Europe, and the first third of his episcopacy was concerned with war-related problems. Many clergy, serving in the Armed Forces as chaplains, were absent from their parishes. Across the Diocese, there was an outpouring of support for the young men training at military posts in the Diocese.
Continuing his predecessor's youth-oriented ministry, Bishop Gravatt launched and funded active programs at eight colleges, and a hired a youth worker for the Diocese. In 1946, Convention finally took action to incorporate black communicants into full participation in Diocesan life. Bishop Gravatt began to organize laymen from parishes into study groups, Kanuga conferences and successful combined meetings, as the women had always done.
Bishop's men were elected from each parish as liaisons to the Diocesan organization. With special urging from the young people, Bishop Gravatt and others had been on the lookout for a suitable location for a Diocesan camp. In 1947, Mr. St. Julian Cullum offered to the Diocese 100 acres of his farm near Batesburg which contained a fifteen-acre spring-fed lake. This site was accepted. Francis Marion Weston left funds for a school for girls to be established. After winning a court decision to allow boys also, Heathwood Hall was chartered and adopted at Convention in 1950 as a Diocesan institution. When Bishop Gravatt retired in 1953, there were twenty-five parishes, thirty-three missions, and 13,220 baptized members. A tribute to him in the Diocesan Journal said, "Few men have attained such holiness of life, such abounding courtesy and goodness of heart, as did Bishop Gravatt. He was an accessible Bishop, forgiving, and with an eagerness to love his neighbor, and indeed, all of God's children. He came to the Diocese in a time of financial depression and poverty of resources, nevertheless, he applied vigor and faith to the task before him. The might and spirit of the Right Reverend John J. Gravatt, D.D., shall remain forever in the Diocese in Camp Gravatt as a living memorial to the hard work, enthusiasm, gentle kindness, and spiritual depth of our Bishop."
--------------------------
Reported by Watt family 6/1/2008:
Dr. McClung and Nancy Wayland were married by Rev. John James Gravatt
After the death of Dr. McClung and the death of Rev. Gravatt's wife Helen Stevens, Rev Gravatt and Nancy Wayland McClung married. (1962 50th Anniversary letter to his sister, signed by both Bishop Gravatt and Nancy indicates the marriage preceded 1962)
-------------------------------------------
|