This week in Christian history: Charles Stanley names successor, First Vatican Council begins, Episcopal Church leader born
Philander Chase born – Dec. 14, 1775
This week marks the anniversary of when Philander Chase, a presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church who helped to create Kenyon College in Ohio, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire.
A child when the United States gained its independence from the British Empire, Chase was known for his missionary work on the Western frontier before becoming presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.
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Chase became head of the denomination immediately following the death of his predecessor, the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, attaining the post by being the most senior bishop rather than through an election.
“Chase … faced the death of his wife, Mary, and of three of his children (two of whom did not see their first birthday), and he endured constant attacks of his enemies, and a life of dire financial straits, for both him, and his institutions,” explained Kenyon College.
“Nevertheless, Chase was able to overcome these hardships and achieve his goals of bringing religion and education to the West, thus establishing himself as a seminal figure in the history of religion, education, and the American frontier.”
