| Philander Chase | |
|---|---|
| Episcopal bishop of Illinois, Presiding Bishop of the national Episcopal Church | |
| Church | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| See | Illinois |
| In Office | 1843 — 1852 |
| Predecessor | Alexander Viets Griswold |
| Successor | Thomas Church Brownell |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1799 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 14, 1775 |
| Died | September 20, 1852 (aged 76) |
| Previous post | Bishop of Ohio, Bishop of Illinois Bishop |
Philander Chase (December 14, 1775 – September 20, 1852) was an Episcopal Church bishop, educator, and pioneer of the United States western frontier in Ohio and Illinois.
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In 1795 while still a student at Dartmouth College, Chase was instrumental in establishing Trinity Church in his hometown of Cornish, New Hampshire.[1] In 1799 as a missionary, he helped to organize first congregation of what would become St. John's Episcopal Church, Canandaigua, New York. In 1805 he was appointed as the founding Rector of what is now Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans. He became the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio in 1819, and later the first Episcopal bishop of Illinois, simultaneously serving as Presiding Bishop of the national church.
Upset by the lack of institutions of higher learning west of the Appalachian Mountains, Chase undertook a difficult fund-raising campaign both in the United States and in England to raise money for such a school to be located in Ohio.
He became the founder and first president of Kenyon College and Bexley Hall seminary in Gambier, Ohio in 1824. Originally the college existed in Worthington, Ohio, but Chase chose to relocate the school on the remote hill of Gambier to protect his students from the immorality (such as drinking and dancing) that could be found in cities.
As Kenyon College grew, Chase came into conflict with the teachers and the trustees of the college, as he desired more control over the direction of the college. After a quarrel with the Board of Trustees, Chase resigned his position as President of the college in 1831. He was succeeded by the Bishop Charles McIlvane.[2]
After removing himself and his family to the Valley of Peace in central Ohio, Chase spent the final years of his life founding Jubilee College and the surrounding frontier community near present-day Peoria, Illinois, financed by arduous fund-raising journeys overseas.
Philander Chase was the uncle and caretaker of Salmon P. Chase, future Chief Justice of the United States.
He was the 18th bishop consecrated in The Episcopal Church.
Chase is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on September 22.
List of Episcopal bishops (U.S.) [1]
| Episcopal Church (USA) titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New Diocese |
1st Bishop of Ohio 1819 – 1832 |
Succeeded by Charles Pettit McIlvaine |
| Preceded by New Diocese |
1st Bishop of Illinois 1835 – September 20, 1852 |
Succeeded by Henry J. Whitehouse |
| Preceded by Alexander Viets Griswold |
6th Presiding Bishop February 15, 1843 – September 20, 1852 |
Succeeded by Thomas Church Brownell |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by ? |
President of Cincinnati College 1822 – ? |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by New |
President of Kenyon College (and Bexley Hall) 1824 – 1831 |
Succeeded by Charles Pettit McIlvaine |
| Preceded by New |
President of Jubilee College 1839 – 1852 |
Succeeded by Closed |
|
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