Treasure Chest Thursday - Dad's Ordination to the Diaconate

My father, Stephen David Matthews, was an Episcopal priest in his first career. He later left the politics of the church behind to pursue his second career as a clinical psychologist.

After graduating Wesleyan University with high distinction in 1958, Dad attended General Theological Seminary in New York City where he earned his S.T.B. (Bachelors of Sacred Theology), graduating in May of 1961. These photos appear to be from that day; they were processed in May 1961 and the buildings match what I have found on the GTS website (I feel another field trip coming on).

Weeks later, on June 13, 1961, Dad was ordained to the Episcopal Diaconate at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut. Unfortunately I haven't inherited any photos from this ordination, but I do have these news clippings.

Is this headline not too much? Like my grandmother
had nothing to do with it!?

I believe that is Dad all the way on the right.

And, of course, I inherited a Bible connected to this occasion; a gift from Bishop Walter H. Gray. As you can see, this Bible is in Greek, the original language (for the most part) of the New Testament.

 

After ordination he was off to his next assignment, Trinity Church, Torrington, CT as Curate.

Next week, my grandparents find an enduring denomination.

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Son of Local Man Ordained
     The Rev. Stephen David Matthews, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard B. Matthews of Middletown, was ordained to the Diaconate Tuesday morning in Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford.
     He was one of ten ordained by the Right Reverend Walter H. Gray, Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut.
     The Rev. Mr. Matthews was born in Chicago and received his early education at the University of Chicago Laboratory School. He is a graduate of Loomis School, and received his B.A. with high distinction from Wesleyan University and his S.T.B. from the General Theological Seminary, New York City.
     In July he will become curate at Trinity Church, Torrington, Connecticut.

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Ordained Deacons: The Rt. Rev. Walter H. Gray, Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut, is shown with five of the 10 deacons ordained at Christ Church Cathedral Tuesday. Dr. George B. McAdams (left), staff pathologist at Hartford Hospital, was ordained to the perpetual deaconate and will remain at the hospital as well as serving as deacon at St. Andrew's Church in North Bloomfield. The other new deacons will become priests, within a year and the churches they will serve as vicars are, from left to right: the Rev. John W. Parker, All Souls, Waterbury; the Rev. John J. Satton Jr., St Gabriels, East Berlin; Bishop Gray; Edward W. Johnson, St. George's Mission, Bolton, and the Rev. Stephen D. Matthews, who will be curate at Trinity Church, Torrington. (Courant Photo by Robert B. Ficks)

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ORDINATION - Solemn procession of new Episcopal deacons, on railing side of Christ Church stairs, marches with sponsoring clergy to ceremony - [Times, Chindmark.

10 Ordained Deacons By Episcopal Bishop
     Ten men were ordained deacons in the Episcopal church at a ceremony in Christ Church Cathedral this morning.
     Two, Dr. George B. McAdams of Hartford and Dr. Archibald Hanna Jr. of New Haven, were ordained to the perpetual diaconate. The others will be ordained to the priesthood probably a year hence.
     The ceremony was conducted by the Rt. Rev. Walter H. Gray, Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut, assisted by Suffragan Bishop John H. Esquirol. The Rev. Harvey H. Guthrie Jr. of Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass., was guest preacher.
     DR. M'ADAMS is staff pathologist at Hartford Hosptial and a member of Old St. Andrews' Church in North Bloomfield to which hehas been assigned as deacon.
     Dr. Hanna, librarian at Yale University, will continue his work at Yale and serve Trinity Church, Branford, as deacon.
     The Rev. John James Satton Jr., a former Methodist minister, wal also among the ordinands. He will serve St. Gabriel's, East Berlin, as vicar.

*     *     * 

     OTHERS ARE: The Rev. John Winston Parker, former consultant for the Connecticut State Department of Education, who has been assigned to All Souls, Waterbury, as vicar.
     The Rev. William Clement Bartlett of Riverside, former FBI man and more recently assistant sales manager of Dictaphone Corporation, who will be vicar of St. Paul's, Darien.
     The Rev. Edward William Johnson of Bridgeport, a former accountant, who will be vicar at St. George's Mission, Bolton.
     The Rev. William Hooper Caffey Congdon of Greenwich, curate at St. Paul's, Wallingford.
     The Rev. Randall Sellers Harris of New London, assistant minister of St. James', New London.
     The Rev. Stephen David Matthews of Middletown, curate at Trinity, Torrington.
     the Rev. Robert Marshall Anderson of Stanford, curate at St. John's, Stamford.

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Trinity Church Gets New Curate
    TORRINGTON (Special) - Stephen David Matthews of Middletown has been appointed curate of Trinity Episcopal Church, according to announcement Wednesday by the Rev. David Gracey, rector.
     He will succeed the Rev. Richard R. Losch who resigned April 15 to become rector of St. John's Church, Sandy Hook.
     The new Trinity assistant is a native of Chicago, where he attended the University of Chicago. He is a graduate of Loomis School, Windsor, and Wesleyan University.
     He will be graduated from the General Theological Seminary in New York May 24 and will be ordained a deacon June 13 at the Episcopal Cathedral in Hartford. He will assume his duties here July 1.