Thomas Frederick Davis (February 8, 1804 – December 2, 1871) was the fifth

Episcopal Episcopal may refer to: *Of or relating to a bishop, an overseer in the Christian church *Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese *Episcopal Church (disambiguation), any church with "Episcopal" in its name ** Episcopal Church (United State ...

Early life

Davis was born in

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is the ...

, the son of Thomas F. Davis and Sarah I. (Eagles) Davis. His great grandmother was the sister of John and Samuel Ashe. His brother, George Davis was Attorney General of the Confederate States. Davis graduated from the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

in 1822.Batterson, 172 He was ordained deacon on November 27, 1831 by Bishop

Levi Silliman Ives Levi Silliman Ives (September 16, 1797 – October 13, 1867) was an American theologian and Episcopal bishop of North Carolina. In 1852, he converted to Roman Catholicism. Ives subsequently became a noted professor at colleges in the New York ...

, and ordained priest the following year on December 16. As deacon, Davis officiated at St. Bartholomew's Church in

Pittsboro, North Carolina Pittsboro is a town in Chatham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2010 census and 4,537 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Chatham County. The town was established in the late 18th century, shortly a ...

and at Calvary Church in

Wadesboro, North Carolina Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,049 at the 2020 census. The town was originally found in 1783 as New Town but changed by the North Carolina General Assembly to Wadesboro in 1787 to honor Co ...

. After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of St. James Church in Wilmington and later was rector of St. Luke's Church in

Salisbury Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath. Salisbury is in the southeast of Wil ...

. In 1846, he moved to South Carolina to become rector of

Grace Church Grace Church may refer to: Canada * Grace Church on-the-Hill, Toronto China * Grace Church, Guanghan Poland * Grace Church, Teschen or Jesus Church, a Lutheran basilica in Teschen, Poland United Kingdom United States * Grace Cathedral (disam ...

Camden Camden may refer to: People * Camden (surname), a surname of English origin * Camden Joy (born 1964), American writer * Camden Toy (born 1957), American actor Places Australia * Camden, New South Wales * Camden, Rosehill, a heritage res ...

Bishop of South Carolina

Davis was elected Bishop of South Carolina in 1853.Batterson, 173 He was the 57th bishop in the PECUSA, and was consecrated by Bishops Thomas Church Brownell,

John Henry Hopkins John Henry Hopkins (January 30, 1792 – January 9, 1868) was the first bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and the eighth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was also an artist (in both watercolor and ...

, and

Benjamin Bosworth Smith Benjamin Bosworth Smith (June 13, 1794 – May 31, 1884) was an American Protestant Episcopal bishop, and the Presiding Bishop of his Church beginning in 1868. Early life Smith was born at Bristol, R. I., and lost his father when he was 5 years ...

. After secession, he aligned with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He served as bishop until his death in 1871.

Notes

References

* 1804 births 1871 deaths Episcopal bishops of South Carolina 19th-century American Episcopalians 19th-century American clergy {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub