Warren Prall Watters

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Warren Prall Watters was the founding Archbishop of the Free Church of Antioch, one of several Independent Catholic Churches with valid Apostolic succession. Watters was born in Imperial, Nebraska, on November 24th, 1890. He died in 1992 at the age of 102 years. He was an accomplished musician and concert pianist and was educated at Grinnel, Northwestern, Drake, and the University of California. He later did post-graduate, doctoral work at the Conservatory of Music in Paris.

Watters was deeply interested in esoteric spiritualities and was for many years a member of the Theosophical Society and of its Esoteric School. He was ordained Priest in Chicago, Illinois in June, 1927, by Edwin Burt Beckwith of the Liberal Catholic Church. He was consectated to the episcopate of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch-Malabar Rite, at the Trinity Church of Santa Barbara, California, on April 28th, 1973, by Bishop Herman Adrian Spruit who was assisted by co-consecrators Bishop Stephan A. Hoeller and Jay Davis Kirby. Watters was assigned as Bishop of California for the Church of Antioch. Changes within that church led to Watters and several other bishops departing to form their own separate and distinct ministries. Watters, shortly before his death, established the Free Church of Antioch. After his passing, he was succeeded by his wife of many years, Ellen Watters, who became Archbishop of the church. Ellen Watters was consecrated to the episcopate on April 20th, 1986 by Herman Adrian Spruit who was assisted by co-consecrators Meri Louise Spruit and Joseph L. Vrendenburgh. Ellen Watters died in 2002.