Robert Carter Jett (May 10, 1865 – August 9, 1950) was bishop of the

Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America located in the southwest area of Virginia. It is in Province III (for the Middle Atlantic Middle or The Middle may refer to: * Cent ...

from 1920 to 1938.

Early life and education

Jett was born May 10, 1865, in King George County, Virginia, the son of William Newton Jett and Virginia Mitchell. he was educated at the public and private schools. he also studied at the

Virginia Theological Seminary Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, located at 3737 Seminary Road in Alexandria, Virginia is the largest and second oldest accredited Episcopal seminary in the Unit ...

from where he graduated in 1889. He was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity from

Washington and Lee University , mottoeng = "Not Unmindful of the Future" , established = , type = Private liberal arts university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.092 billion (2021) , president = William C. Dudley , provost = Lena Hill , city = Lexington ...

in 1915.

Ordained ministry

Jett was ordained deacon in 1898 by Bishop

Francis McNeece Whittle Francis McNeece Whittle (July 7, 1823 – June 20, 1902) was the fifth Episcopal bishop of Virginia. Early and family life Born at Millbank Plantation on the Meherrin River in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Francis was the next-to-youngest of the ...

and priest in 1890 by Bishop

Alfred Magill Randolph Alfred Magill Randolph (August 31, 1836 – April 6, 1918) was the first bishop of Southern Virginia in The Episcopal Church. Early and family life Alfred Magill Randolph was born on August 31, 1836, at "the Meadows" in Winchester, Virginia to Ma ...

. He served as assistant at Epiphany Church in

Danville, Virginia Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, located in the Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River. It was a center of tobacco production and was an area of Confederate activity ...

from 1889 to 1890, and then became rector of Beckford Parish in Shenandoah County, Virginia from 1890 to 1893. In 1893 he became the first rector of Emmanuel Church in Staunton, Virginia, a post he retained till 1913 when he resigned to organize and eventually establish the Virginia Episcopal School, of which he served as its first rector from 1916 to 1920.

Bishop

On December 10, 1920, Jett was elected the first Bishop of Southwestern Virginia. He was consecrated on March 24, 1920, in Trinity Church, Staunton, Virginia, by Presiding Bishop

Daniel S. Tuttle Daniel Sylvester Tuttle (January 26, 1837 – April 17, 1923) was consecrated a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Episcopal Church in 1866. His first assignment was as Bishop of Montana, a missionary field that include ...

. In the first year of his episcopacy, Jett established a diocesan newspaper. He was deeply involved in community activities as an integral part of Christian commitment. Jett worked tirelessly, patiently, and faithfully to carry on the evangelical and missionary tradition of the Church in Virginia. He did his work well, and he left behind him a strong and well-grounded diocese. He retired on May 17, 1938.

References

External links

* 1865 births 1950 deaths Episcopal bishops of Southwestern Virginia Virginia Theological Seminary alumni People from King George County, Virginia {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub