William Francis Moses (February 6, 1898 - July 31, 1961) was an American prelate of the Episcopal Church, who served as Suffragan Bishop of South Florida from 1956 till 1961.


William Francis Moses
Suffragan Bishop of South Florida
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseSouth Florida
ElectedMay 23, 1956
In office1956–1961
PredecessorMartin J. Bram
SuccessorWilliam L. Hargrave
Orders
OrdinationFebruary 1925
by Henry J. Mikell
ConsecrationOctober 18, 1956
by Henry Knox Sherrill
Personal details
Born(1898-02-06)February 6, 1898
DiedJuly 31, 1961(1961-07-31) (aged 63)
London, England
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsFrank Hamilton Moses & Cora Mina Thibadeau
SpouseCornelia Chaffee
Children3

Early life and education edit

Moses was born on February 6, 1898, in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Frank Hamilton Moses and Cora Mina Thibadeau. He was educated at the public high school of Atlanta and then at the Georgia School of Technology. On April 2, 1923, he married Cornelia Chaffee, and together had three children. In 1924, he graduated in theology from the University of the South, and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity by the same university in 1956.[1]

Ordained ministry edit

Moses was ordained deacon in June 1924 and priest in February 1925 by Bishop Henry J. Mikell of Atlanta. He was in charge of the Church of St James in Cedartown, Georgia, and of the Church of the Ascension in Cartersville, Georgia, between 1924 and 1929. From 1929 till 1930, he served as priest-in-charge of Grace Church in Sheffield, Alabama, and St John's Church in Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 1930, he became rector of All Saints' Church in Lakeland, Florida, a post he retained till 1952. From 1952 till 1956, he was rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, Florida.[2]

Suffragan Bishop edit

On May 23, 1956, Moses was elected Suffragan Bishop of South Florida during a diocesan convention, and was consecrated on October 18, 1956, in the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, Florida, by Presiding Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill.[3] Bishop Moses' episcopacy was short lived like his predecessor's, after suffering a heart attack on July 26, 1961, during a trip to England. He died in a London hospital on July 31, 1961.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "The Rt. Rev. William Francis Moses (545)". The Living Church Annual: 519. 1957.
  2. ^ "Moses, William Francis". Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Episcopal Church: 261. 1953.
  3. ^ "Two New Bishops in Arkansas and South Take Office". The Living Church. 133: 12. 14 November 1956.
  4. ^ "Bishop Moses Dies". The Living Church. 143: 4. 13 August 1961.