William Crittenden


William K. Crittenden was the fifth Bishop of Erie in The Episcopal Church between 1952 and 1973.

Early Life and Education

Crittenden was born in New Boston, Pennsylvania, on June 28, 1908, the son of Ernest H. Crittenden and Susan Beatrice Cook. He was educated at the high school of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He then studied at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1929. He then worked for the Bell Telephone Company from 1929 to 1933. In 1931 he married Eleanor Elizabeth Setchel and together had two children. In 1936 he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity from Episcopal Theological Seminary. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Lafayette College and a Doctor of Law from Gannon University in 1963, the latter being a recognition by the Roman Catholic Church for his ecumenical work.

Ordained Ministry

He was ordained deacon in 1934 and priest a on May 31, 1935 by Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill. Between 1934 and 1935, he served as curate of St Paul's Church in Brookline, Massachusetts, after which he became as vicar of Grace Church in Dalton, Massachusetts and St Luke's Church in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. In 1939 he became rector of St John's Church in North Adams, Massachusetts while in 1942 he became chaplain, assistant professor of religion, and assistant to the president at Lafayette College. Between 1945 and 1949 he was the executive secretary of the Division for Youth of the Episcopal Church. On December 20, 1949, he became Archdeacon of Southern Ohio, a post he retained till 1952.

Episcopacy

Crittenden was elected Bishop of Erie on the third ballot on April 26, 1952, during a special convention. He was consecrated in St Paul's Cathedral in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 26, 1952, by Presiding Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill. He was well known for his ecumenical work throughout his episcopacy. He retired on December 31, 1973 and moved to Mexico in 1974 to teach ethics at the University of Guadalajara. He died on September 8, 2003 in Stokesdale, North Carolina.