Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 11

The Rt. Rev. Louis Childs Sanford, D.D., first bishop of the Episcopal Missionary District of San Joaquin, was born at Bristol, R. I., July 27, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of his home town and then entered Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1888, with the degree A.B. His desire had been to enter the ministry of the Episcopal Church and his studies were directed along those lines. He was graduated from the Episcopal Theological School of Cambridge, Mass., in 1892, and received the degree S.T.B. In 1913 Brown University conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. After graduating from the theological school at Cambridge he came to California and was appointed to the pastorate of the Mission Church at Selma, Fresno County. He also served the congregation of Fowler, and it was through his ministrations that the present edifice was erected in that town. From 1898 until 1900 he was rector of the Episcopal Church at Salinas, Monterey County, and for the next seven years he was stationed in .San Francisco as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. The years 1908-1910 he served as secretary of the Eighth Missionary Department of the Episcopal Church, which included all of the United States west of the Rocky Mountains. His circle of friends increased; and many congratulations were received upon his election, in October, 1910, at the general convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the bishopric of the Episcopal Missionary District of San Joaquin. He was consecrated in St. John's Church, San Francisco, on January 25, 1911, and at once assumed the duties of his office with Fresno as his home.

The Missionary District of San Joaquin was constituted in October, 1910, it being the fourth division of the Diocese of California. Rev. Louis Childs Sanford was nominated for bishop and was elected without opposition. The district comprises fourteen counties in Central California; viz., Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Kings, Tulare, Kern, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Alpine, Inyo and Mono. The primary convocation of the district was held in St. James Episcopal Church in Fresno on May 9, 1911, with an attendance of eleven clergy and twenty-five lay delegates, representing twelve parishes and missions. Rev. L. A. Wood was elected secretary and registrar, and the first council of advice consisted of Revs. H. S. Hanson, G. R. E. MacDonald, H. C. B. Gill and B. L. Barney. The bishop announced the selection of Fresno as the see city of the district. St. James Episcopal Parish Church became the Pro-Cathedral of the district in December, 1911. The bishop nominated Rev. G. R. E. MacDonald first dean of the Pro-Cathedral, and he was installed on May 12, 1912. The activity of the bishop and his superb leadership on all occasions, together with the loyal support of the clergy and laity of his district, are evident in every department of church work and church life. Under his able leadership the debt of the church has been liquidated and, as the country of the district has been more thickly populated, new churches and missions have been established, among which we mention the Mission of the Holy Spirit, erected at the corner of Van Ness and McKinley Avenues, with Rev. F. G. Williams, vicar in charge. The ground upon which St. James Pro-Cathedral stands consists of six lots fronting 150 feet on Fresno Street and 150 feet on N Street, all very valuable property.

Bishop Sanford was united in marriage with Ellison Vernon, a native of London, England, and they have three children: Edward, born on December 17, 1902: Mary, born on March 27, 1906: and Royal, born on March 7, 1910. Rt. Rev. Sanford, aside from his duties as bishop, is very active in civic and kindred work. He is treasurer of Fresno Chapter of the Red Cross, a& well as active in all war and relief work. Fraternally, he is a member of the Zeta Psi.