John Chamberlain Ward (August 27, 1873 – February 15, 1949) was second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, now Northwestern Pennsylvania between 1921 and 1943.

Biography

Ward was born on August 27, 1873 in

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

, the son of Hamilton Ward and May Adelia Chamberlain. He studied at

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

and graduated in 1896. He then studied at the

General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating Seminary in the Anglican Communi ...

, from here he graduated in 1899. He was ordained deacon on May 28, 1899 and priest on May 27, 1900, both by

William David Walker William David Walker (June 29, 1839 – May 2, 1917) was consecrated as the first missionary bishop of the Episcopal Church's Missionary District of North Dakota on December 20, 1883. He became the third bishop of Western New York in 1897 and he ...

, Bishop of Western New York. He then became rector of St Stephen's Church in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

, while in 1902 he became rector of Grace Church in

, where he remained till 1921, except for the two years he spent as a military chaplain during WWI. Ward was elected Bishop of Erie on April 12, 1921, on the twenty second ballot, during a special diocesan convention He was consecrated to the episcopate on September 22, 1921 by Presiding Bishop

Daniel S. Tuttle Daniel Sylvester Tuttle (January 26, 1837 – April 17, 1923) was consecrated a bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1866. His first assignment was as Bishop of Montana, a missionary field that included Montana, Utah, and Idaho. Early and family lif ...

, in Grace Church,

. He retained the post till his retirement in 1943. He died in

on February 15, 1949. For service in the First World War, he received the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

, British

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

, and the

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

. After retirement on June 1, 1943, he was rejected at the age of 69 for military enlistment and subsequently lived at the Buffalo Club until his death. His brother was New York State Attorney General Hamilton Ward, Jr.

References

1873 births 1949 deaths American Episcopalians American military personnel of World War I Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) General Theological Seminary alumni Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Harvard College alumni Episcopal bishops of Northwestern Pennsylvania {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub