Email from Julia Randle, Archivist, Virginia Theological Seminary: The Goodwin

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Title	Email from Julia Randle, Archivist, Virginia Theological Seminary
Author	Julia Randle, VTS Archivist
Source ID	S5
Text	Dear Bob Goodwin,Thank you for your message and your lead to Betsy Joslin. I will becontacting her in July after I return from a business trip to Canada.Regarding questions concerning various Revs. Gravatt and Goodwin, I haveincluded my answers below. You certainly have an impressive array ofEpiscopal clergymen and bishops in your family, all of whom deserve theirown biographies far more extensive than the information I can provide below.1. John J. Gravatt (1853-1925). Your great-grandfather had a remarkablystable career. His ordained ministry commenced at St. John's, Hampton in1876, and continued until his 1893 resignation to take the rectorship ofMoore Memorial Church, Richmond. At that time, the congregation of MooreMemorial was also completing their church building. In conjunction with thebuilding project, they voted on 12 February 1894 to rename their church HolyTrinity. Your grandfather remained at that parish until his death in 1925.In June 1924, however, Holy Trinity and Grace Church, Richmond, merged toform Grace and Holy Trinity. The consolidated church would reside at theHoly Trinity facility and Grace Church was abandoned. "For the first yearof the consolidation, Dr. Burkhardt [rector of Grace] and Dr. Gravatt[rector of Holy Trinity] would serve as associate rectors 'with equal powersand authority;' at the end of that time Dr. Gravatt, who had alreadytendered his resignation, would become 'rector emeritus,' and Dr. Burkhardtwould assume the title and duties of rector." (William H. Gaines, Jr., AHistory of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1858-1987, Richmond:Grace and Holy Trinity, n.d., p. 27.) Your great-grandfather did not liveto assume his title of rector emeritus, as he died 14 March 1925. Followingis a transcription of his obituary in the Virginia Churchman, April 1925, p.474.:Death of the Rev. John J. Gravatt, D.D."The Rev. John J. Gravatt, D.D., Associate Rector of Grace and HolyTrinity Church, in Richmond, died suddenly, after a very short illness, onSaturday March 14, age seventy-one years.Dr. Gravett was born in Port Royal, Virginia, in 1853, and graduated atthe Virginia Seminary in 1876. He was sent as a deacon to the charge of St.John's Church, Hampton, Virginia, and held the rectorship of that church forover fifteen years. He gave up that charge to assume the rectorship of HolyTrinity Church, In Richmond, which, under his leadership, grew to be one ofthe largest and strongest congregations in the city. Within the past yearHoly Trinity and Grace Churches combined under the name of "Grace and HolyTrinity" with Dr. Gravatt and Rev. W.H. Burkhardt, D.D., as associationrectors.Dr. Gravatt has occupied a leading position in the Diocese of Virginia,being for many years a member of the Executive Committee of the DioceseMissionary Society and of the Standing Committee of the Diocese. He was aDeputy from the Diocese of Virginia to the General Convention almostcontinuously from 1904 to 1919.He was an outstanding figure of the religious life of the community andwas widely known and loved as a strong preacher and devoted pastor. Hew asa leader in matters of community welfare and rendered signal service to thecity in that respect.Dr. Gravatt was a brother of the Rt. Rev. Wm. L. Gravatt, D.D., theBishop of West Virginia, and leaves a son, the Rev. John J. Gravatt, Jr.,the rector of Trinity Church, Staunton, Virginia; and a daughter, the wifeof the Rev. Robert A. Goodwin, Executive Secretary of the Diocese ofSouthern Virginia.His funeral was held at Grace and Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, onMarch 16, conducted by the Bishop of the Diocese and the Rev. Drs. W.H.Burkhardt and J.F. Ribble. All of the clergy of the city were vested andacted as honorary pall-bearers. The interment was in Hampton beside hiswife, who died many years ago."I have found no evidence that J.J. Gravatt returned to minister at St.John's after 1893. I suspect that they their picture of him from later lifeis a statement of availability, not a representation of a later ministry.In my experience, churches display the images of nineteenth century rectorsthat they have been able to acquire, regardless of whether the image wasfrom the time the rector served that particular parish.2. 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 1953.3. William Loyall Gravatt(12/15/1859-02/14/1942) was your greatgrandfather's older brother. He, too, was a Bishop, ministering as Bishopof West Virginia 1916-1939. An 1884 graduate of VTS, he was ordained adeacon 06/27/1884 and a priest 05/20/1885, both ordinations by BishopFrancis M. Whittle, Bishop of Virginia. His career, from Stowe's ClericalDirectory, 1941, p. 110, was as follows: 1884-186, Curate, St. Paul's,Richmond; 1886-93, Rector, St. Peter's Church, Norfolk; 1893-99, Rector,Zion Church, Charles Town, WV; and 1899-1916, Bishop Coadjutor, WestVirginia.4. Robert Archer Goodwin (03/01/1886-11/05/1971) was a 1910 VTS grad andreceived a DD from the same in 1941. A summary of his ministry from TheClerical Directory of the Episcopal Church 1968, p. 177 is as follows:1910-1915, Missionary China; 1915-1917, Assistant Rector, Grace, Richmond,VA; 1917-20, Rector, St. John's, Aldie, VA; 1920-21, Rector, Christ Church,Winchester, VA; 1921-22, Missionary Kuling School, China;1922-23, Chaplain,Episcopal School for Boys, Lynchburg; 1924-26, REctor, Lynnhaven Parish,Norfolk, VA; 1926-28, Church Home for Orphans & Wilmer Training School forChurch Women & St. Paul's Church, Spring Hill, AL; 1929-1934, Christ Church,Martinsville, Va; 1934-40, Rector, Cunningham Chapel Parish, VA; 1940-11949,Dean & Professor, Bishop Payne Divinity School, Petersburg, VA; andProfessor, VTS, 1949-1956. St. John's, Aldie, is located on Rt. 50 (I drovepast it this week) between Winchester and Washington, DC, and would be thechurch your father pointed out to you. To date I have uncovered noindication that your grandfather served in France in World War I. Myresearch into his life, however, is ongoing, and I may uncover that aspectof his life in the future. I will let you know what I discover.I hope the information above provides some clarity to your family history.If you have additional questions, or if I can be of further assistance,please contact me at your convenience.Sincerely yours,Julia E. Randle, Archivist
Linked to	Reverend John James Gravatt