Bishop Samuel Seabury

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of Samuel Seabury (30 November 1729 – 25 February 1796), the first consecrated bishop of the Anglican Communion in the United States of America.  He was born in North Groton, Connecticut in 1729. His father, also Samuel Seabury (1706–1764), was originally a Congregationalist minister, but he was later ordained deacon and priest in the Church of England in 1730, and he served as rector in New London, Connecticut, from 1732 to 1743, and of St George's, Hempstead, Long Island, from 1743 until his death.

 

His son, Samuel Seabury, graduated from Yale College in 1748, and studied theology with his father. He studied medicine in Edinburgh from 1752 to 1753 and was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln and priest by the Bishop of Carlisle in 1753. He served as rector of Christ Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey from 1754 to 1757, rector in Jamaica, New York from 1757 to 1766, and of St. Peter's, Westchester (now annexed to The Bronx) from 1766 to 1775.

 

During the colonial era, there had been no Anglican bishops in the Colonies; and those seeking ordination had to travel to England. After American independence, it was important for the Church in the United States to have its own bishops, and an assembly of Connecticut clergy chose Samuel Seabury to go to England and there seek to be consecrated as a bishop.  So Seabury went to Scotland to be ordained bishop where he was consecrated on this day in Aberdeen in 1784.

 

Let us pray:  Eternal God, you blessed your servant Samuel Seabury with the gift of perseverance to renew the Anglican inheritance in North America: Grant that, joined together in unity with our bishops and nourished by your holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CANCELLED Mammogram Screening on November 16, 2014 because the mobile unit is out of service; therefore, we will reschedule.  Please pass the word along. 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  The Lujan family is in need to 2 couches.  If anyone has a couch they are trying to find a home for, this would be a great place.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Our Church Thanksgiving Lunch will be Sunday, 23 November 2014 following the 9 AM Eucharist.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Patricia Florence’s family.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550