William A. Guerry

William Alexander Guerry (July 7, 1861 – June 9, 1928) was an American prelate who served as the eighth Bishop of South Carolina.

The Right Reverend

William Alexander Guerry

D.D.
Bishop of South Carolina
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseSouth Carolina
Elected1907
In office1908–1928
PredecessorEllison Capers
SuccessorAlbert Sidney Thomas
Orders
OrdinationDecember 22, 1889
by Ellison Capers
ConsecrationSeptember 15, 1907
by Daniel S. Tuttle
Personal details
Born(1861-07-07)July 7, 1861
Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States
DiedJune 9, 1928(1928-06-09) (aged 66)
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
BuriedSt. Philip's Episcopal Church (Charleston, South Carolina)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsLeGrand Felder Guerry & Margaret Serena Brailsford
SpouseAnne McBee
Children5
Previous postCoadjutor Bishop of South Carolina (1907-1908)
Alma materSewanee: The University of the South

Early Life and Education

Guerry was born on July 7, 1861 in Clarendon County, South Carolina, the son of the Reverend LeGrand Felder Guerry and Margaret Serena Brailsford. He studied at Sewanee: The University of the South where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1884, his Master of Arts in 1884, and his Bachelor of Divinity in 1891. [1]

Ordained Ministry

Guerry was ordained deacon on September 23, 1888, and priest on December 22, 1889 by Bishop Ellison Capers. In 1888, he was appointed rector of St John's Church in Florence, South Carolina, while in 1893 became chaplain of the University of the South, where he was also professor of homiletic and pastoral theology at the School of Theology. He was also involved in the construction of All Saints' Chapel in the university campus. [2]

Bishop

In 1907, Guerry was elected Coadjutor Bishop of South Carolina,[3] and was consecrated on September 15, 1907 by Presiding Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle. He then became the eighth diocesan bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina on April 22, 1908. Guerry was made a Mason at Sight and was a member of Landmark Lodge No 76, A.F.M. During his episcopacy, he worked to gain racial equality in the diocese.

Murder

On June 5, 1928, Guerry was shot in his office in St Philip's Church, Charleston, South Carolina by a priest who had attacked his position on advancing racial equality in South Carolina.[4] Great opposition was also elicited by the bishop's proposal to have a black suffragan bishop. His murderer shot himself too and died. Guerry died four days later in Roper Hospital.[5]

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References
  1. "Guerry, William Alexander". Who's Who in America. 15: 127. 1928.
  2. Hauck, A. (1909). "Guerry, William Alexander". The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. 5: 93.
  3. Hauck, A. (1907). "A Bishop Coadjutor for South Carolina". The Churchman. 95: 8.
  4. "BISHOP GUERRY DIES OF BULLET WOUND", The New York Times, New York, NY, 10 June 1928. Retrieved on 12 June 2020.
  5. "William Alexander Guerry", Diocese of South Carolina. Retrieved on 12 June 2020.

See also
  • List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USA
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