Episcopal Press and News
Virginia Elects Lewis Suffragan Bishop
Episcopal News Service. October 18, 1979 [79294]
Richmond, Va. -- The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has chosen a Richmond rector to be its suffragan bishop to succeed Bishop John A. Baden who will retire at the end of December.
The Rev. David Henry Lewis, Jr., rector of St. Matthew's Church in Richmond for the past 23 years, was elected suffragan bishop on the fourth ballot at a special diocesan election at All Saints Church on Oct. 6.
Eight names, including Father Lewis', were submitted by a nominating committee and one priest -- the Rev. Alden M. Hathaway of St. Christopher's Church, Springfield, Va. -- was nominated from the floor.
The suffragan bishop-elect led in the balloting in the lay order from the beginning and on the first ballot was tied with the Rev. Don Raby Edwards, St. Stephen's Church, Richmond, in the clerical order. Father Lewis on succeeding ballots built up his lead in the lay order and on the third ballot overcame a lead in the clerical order held by Father Edwards on the second. He received a majority in both orders on the fourth ballot.
A native of South Boston, Va., Father Lewis, 61, is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria. Prior to coming to St. Stephen's, he served parishes in Abingdon, Christchurch, and Culpepper, Virginia.
In the Diocese of Virginia he has served on the standing committee and has been a deputy to a number of General Conventions since 1955.
Like Bishop Baden, the new suffragan bishop will live and maintain a northern Virginia office in Alexandria. His consecration may take place Feb. 3 at Richmond's St. Paul's Church during the annual council of the diocese following his receiving the canonically required consents of the diocesan bishops and standing committees.
In 1942 he married Caroline Lunt Coffman and they have four children. Splitting the Diocese of Virginia into two approximately equal-sized new dioceses will be discussed -- and perhaps acted on -- at a special diocesan council meeting next April 26, according to Diocesan Bishop Robert B. Hall.
A special celebration of the ministry of Bishop Baden will be held in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul -- the Washington Cathedral -- next spring.