Frederick Percy Goddard (December 8, 1903 - June 7, 1983) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

prelate of the Episcopal Church, who served as Suffragan Bishop of Texas from 1955 until 1972.

Early life and education

Goddard was born on December 8, 1903, in Seymour, Connecticut, to Frederick Goddard and Louisa Marshall. He was educated at the Seymour high school, graduating in 1920, and then commenced studies at

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

, from where he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1924. He then pursued training for the ordained ministry at

Berkeley Divinity School Berkeley Divinity School, founded in 1854, is a seminary of The Episcopal Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Along with Andover Newton Theological School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Berkeley is one of the three "Partners on the Quad," ...

, and graduated with a

Bachelor of Divinity In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity or Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD or BDiv; la, Baccalaureus Divinitatis) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology ...

in 1927. He also briefly studied at the Toynbee Institute of International Affairs in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1927. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology by Berkley in 1954, and a

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

in 1957 by the University of the South.

Ordained ministry

Goddard was ordained

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

in June 1927 by Bishop Edward Campion Acheson of Connecticut and the

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...

in April 1928 by Bishop Clinton S. Quin of Texas. Soon after, he married May Selena Bennett on September 8, 1928, and together had two children. He served his priesthood as rector of St John's Church in Marlin, Texas, from 1928 until 1955. Goddard was also involved in numerous diocesan positions, notably president of the standing committee between 1947 and 1949, and deputy to the general conventions of 1937, 1943, 1946, 1952, and 1955. He was also editor of the Texas Churchman between 1930 and 1937.

Bishop

On May 6, 1955, Goddard was elected

Suffragan Bishop A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

of Texas and was consecrated bishop on August 6, 1955, at Christ Church Cathedral by Bishop Clinton S. Quin of Texas. He retained the post until his retirement in 1972. He died on June 7, 1983, in Marlin, Texas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goddard, F. Perry 1903 births 1983 deaths 20th-century American Episcopalians Episcopal bishops of Texas Berkeley Divinity School alumni Yale University alumni