George De Normandie Gillespie (June 14, 1819 – March 19, 1909) was the first bishop of Western Michigan in The Episcopal Church.

The Right Reverend

George De Normandie Gillespie

S.T.D.
Bishop of Western Michigan
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseWestern Michigan
ElectedDecember 2, 1874
In office1875–1909
SuccessorJohn N. McCormick
Orders
OrdinationJune 30, 1843
by William H. DeLancey
ConsecrationFebruary 24, 1875
by Samuel A. McCoskry
Personal details
Born(1819-06-14)June 14, 1819
Goshen, New York, United States
DiedMarch 19, 1909(1909-03-19) (aged 89)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
BuriedAnn Arbor, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsJohn De Normandie Gillespie & Susan Bedford
Spouse
Rebecca Parrett
(m. 1846)
Alma materGeneral Theological Seminary
SignatureGeorge De Normandie Gillespie's signature

Early life and education edit

Gillespie was born on June 14, 1819, in Goshen, New York, the son of John De Normandie Gillespie and Susan Bedford.[1][2] He studied at the General Theological Seminary, graduating in theology in 1840. He was awarded a Doctor of Sacred Theology in 1875 from Hobart College.[3]

Career edit

Gillespie was ordained deacon on June 28, 1840, in St Peter's Church, by Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk of New York, and priest in St Mark's Church, Le Roy, New York, on June 30, 1843, by Bishop William H. DeLancey of Western New York.[2] He then served as rector of St Mark's Church in Le Roy, New York, between 1840 till 1844, and then rector of St Paul's Church in Cincinnati between 1844 and 1851. In 1851, he became rector of Zion Church in Palmyra, New York, while in 1861, he transferred to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to serve as rector of St Andrew's Church.[4]

Bishop edit

In 1874, Gillespie was elected as the first bishop of Western Michigan and was consecrated on February 24, 1875, by Bishop Samuel A. McCoskry of Michigan.[5] He died in office on March 19, 1909, after a long illness.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Bishop George D. Gillespie" (PDF). The New York Times. March 20, 1909. p. 9. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1906). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. IV. Boston: American Biographical Society. Retrieved March 28, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Batterson, Hermon Griswold (1878). "George De Normandie Gillespie, S.T.D." A Sketch-book of the American Episcopate. p. 291. Retrieved March 28, 2022 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Gillespie, George De Normandie". The Living Church Annual. 1910. p. 62.
  5. ^ "The Right Reverend George De Normandie Gillespie, S.T.D." The Living Church Annual and Clergy-list Quarterly. 1885. p. 75.
  • "Death of Bishop Gillespie" in The Living Church, March 27, 1909, p. 712.