David Keller Leighton, Sr. (January 22, 1922 – August 7, 2013) was the American bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland 1972–1985.

The Right Reverend

David Keller Leighton

D.D.
Bishop of Maryland
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseMaryland
In office1972–1985
PredecessorHarry Lee Doll
SuccessorA. Theodore Eastman
Previous post(s)Coadjutor Bishop of Maryland (1968-1972)
Orders
Ordination1955
ConsecrationNovember 30, 1968
by John E. Hines
Personal details
Born(1922-01-22)January 22, 1922
DiedAugust 7, 2013(2013-08-07) (aged 91)
Sykesville, Maryland, United States
BuriedSt. Thomas Church (Owings Mills, Maryland)
DenominationAnglican
ParentsFrank Kingsley Leighton & Irene Adele Keller
SpouseCarolyn Ruth Smith (m. 1945)
Children3

Early life and education

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Leighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 22, 1922, the son of Frank Kingsley Leighton and Irene Adele Keller. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. On January 18, 1945, he married Carolyn Ruth Smith and together had three children. In 1947, Leighton graduated from Northwestern University and worked for General Motors. He then went to Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1955. In 1969 he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Ordained ministry

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After ordination in 1955, he became curate of Calvary Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in 1956 he became rector of St Andrew's Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Between 1959 and 1963, he served as rector of the Church of the Holy Nativity in Forest Park, Baltimore. He subsequently was a teacher of sacred studies at the St. Paul's School (Brooklandville, Maryland). Later, he became Archdeacon of Maryland, a post he retained till 1968.[1]

Episcopacy

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In 1968, he was elected coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Maryland and was consecrated on November 30, 1968, at Emmanuel Church, in Baltimore, by Presiding Bishop John E. Hines. He succeeded as diocesan bishop in January 1972. He was the first Bishop of Maryland to ordain the first woman to the priesthood in the Diocese of Maryland in 1977. Leighton retired in 1985. He died in Sykesville, Maryland.[2][3]

Notes

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  1. ^ RIP: Retired Maryland Bishop David Keller Leighton Sr.
  2. ^ "RIP: Retired Maryland Bishop David Keller Leighton, Sr". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  3. ^ Bp. Leighton dead at 91
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Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by Bishop of Maryland
1972−1985
Succeeded by