21 Facts About Frank Griswold

Frank Tracy Griswold III was an American clergyman who served as the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Frank Griswold studied at Harvard College, where he majored in English literature, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959.

Frank Griswold trained for ordination at the General Theological Seminary and earned a further BA degree in theology from Oriel College, Oxford in 1962: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts degree in 1966.

Frank Griswold was ordained as a deacon on December 15,1962, by Andrew Yu-Yue Tsu and as a priest on June 23,1963 by Joseph Gillespie Armstrong.

Frank Griswold then served at three parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, including St Andrew's Church in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and St Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1976 until his nomination as Bishop of Chicago.

Frank Griswold was consecrated a bishop on March 2,1985, by John Allin; upon which he became coadjutor bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

Frank Griswold was Bishop of Chicago from 1987 until he became the presiding bishop in 1998.

Frank Griswold was co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission from 1998 to 2003.

Frank Griswold was a member of the standing committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference.

Frank Griswold served on diocesan, national, and international committees for liturgy, worship, and ecumenism.

Frank Griswold was interested in interfaith dialogue and sat on the board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.

In 2003, Frank Griswold supported the successful appointment of Gene Robinson as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, making Robinson the denomination's first openly gay bishop.

Frank Griswold was succeeded by Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to become a primate in the Anglican Communion.

Frank Griswold continued a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, lecturing and leading retreats, nationally and internationally.

Frank Griswold served as bishop visitor to the Society of St John the Evangelist.

Frank Griswold was the author of Going Home: An Invitation to Jubilee, Tracking Down the Holy Ghost: Reflections on Love and Longing and Praying Our Days: A Guide and Companion and, with the Rev Mark McIntosh, the co-author of Seeds of Faith: Theology and Spirituality at the Heart of Christian Belief and Harvest of Hope: A Contemplative Approach to Holy Scripture.

Frank Griswold was a cousin of both Sheldon Munson Griswold and Alexander Viets Griswold, both Episcopal bishops.

Frank Griswold died from respiratory failure at a hospital in Philadelphia on March 5,2023, at the age of 85.

Frank Griswold has received honorary degrees from the General Theological Seminary, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Nashotah House, Sewanee, Rikkyo University and Berkeley Divinity School, the Virginia Theological Seminary, Seminary of the Southwest and Episcopal Divinity School.

Frank Griswold was made an Associate Sub Prelate of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Frank Griswold was the 794th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.