William Godsell Wright (March 13, 1904 – August 4, 1973) was an Episcopal prelate who served as Bishop of Nevada from 1960 to 1972.

The Right Reverend

William Godsell Wright

D.D.
Bishop of Nevada
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseNevada
Elected1959
In office1960–1972
PredecessorWilliam F. Lewis
SuccessorWesley Frensdorff
Orders
OrdinationDecember 1930
by Edward Campion Acheson
ConsecrationFebruary 4, 1960
by Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Personal details
Born(1904-03-13)March 13, 1904
DiedAugust 4, 1973(1973-08-04) (aged 69)
Reno, Nevada, United States
DenominationAnglican
ParentsWilliam Clifford Wright and Edith Browning
Spouse
Marion Swannell
(m. 1930)
Children2

Education

edit

Wright was born on March 13, 1904, in Greenville, Illinois, the son of William Clifford Wright and Edith Browning. He was educated in the public school of Corpus Christi, Texas and then at the Greenville High School. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1927 and later from the General Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1930. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Daniel Baker College in 1952. [1] [2]

Ordained Ministry

edit

Wright was ordained deacon in April 1930 by Bishop John Chanler White of Springfield and priest in December 1930 by Bishop Edward Campion Acheson of Connecticut. After ordination, he became assistant minister at St Paul's Church in New Haven, Connecticut from 1930 until 1933 and then rector of Trinity Church in Newtown, Connecticut between 1933 and 1938. Later he transferred to Trinity Church in Wethersfield, Connecticut where he served as rector from 1938 to 1940. In 1941 he became associate rector of St Paul's Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and later as rector of St Clement's Church in El Paso, Texas in 1943. In 1953, he also became the director of the National Council's Home Department.[3]

Bishop

edit

In 1959 Wright was elected missionary Bishop of Nevada. He was consecrated on February 4, 1960, by presiding Bishop Arthur C. Lichtenberger in Trinity Church in Reno, Nevada. During his time in Nevada, four new Episcopal churches were established in the state. He was also the first diocesan bishop of Nevada after the diocese was created in 1971. He retired by the end of 1971.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "WRIGHT, William Godsell". The Clerical Directory of the Protestant Episcopal Church: 453. 1956.
  2. ^ "WRIGHT, William Godsell". Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Episcopal Church: 320. 1941.
  3. ^ "William Wright Accepts". The Living Church: 7. 1 February 1953.
  4. ^ "Consecration Ordered". The Living Church: 7. 3 January 1960.