Famous Bishops

Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London, and later Thomas à Becket (21 December c. 1119 (or 1120) – 29 December 1170), served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. The Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion both venerate him as a saint and martyr. He clashed with Henry II, King of England, over Church rights and privileges. Followers of the king murdered him in Canterbury Cathedral. Pope Alexander III canonized him after his death.

Saint Peter (Syriac: ܫܸܡܥܘܿܢ ܟܹ݁ܐܦ݂ܵܐ, Šemʿōn Kēp̄ā; Hebrew: שמעון בר יונה‎ Šimʿōn bar Yōnāh; Greek: Πέτρος, translit. Petros; Coptic: ⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ, romanized: Petros; Latin: Petrus; r. AD 30; died between AD 64 and 68), also called Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon (, pronunciation ), Sham'un al-Safa, Cephas, or Peter the Apostle, was one of Jesus Christ's Twelve Apostles. Peter led the early Church. Christian tradition says Emperor Nero crucified Peter in Rome. He is traditionally the first Bishop of Rome—or pope—and is also recognized by Eastern Christian tradition.

James Wedderburn (1585 – 23 September 1639), bishop of Dunblane, was the second son of John Wedderburn, a mariner and shipowner from Dundee, and Margaret Lindsay. His grandfather was James Wedderburn (1495?–1553), a playwright and early Scottish supporter of Protestantism. James Wedderburn was born in Dundee in 1585. He started university at St. Andrews in 1604, earning a Master of Arts in 1608. He then moved to an English university, likely Cambridge. He once tutored the children of Isaac Casaubon and was among the Burney manuscripts.

John Arthur Thomas Robinson (16 May 1919 – 5 December 1983) served as an English New Testament scholar, author, and the Anglican Bishop of Woolwich. Robinson taught at Trinity College, Cambridge, and later became Dean of Trinity College until his death from cancer in 1983. Robinson shaped liberal Christian theology. He spearheaded secular theology with Harvard theologian Harvey Cox. Like William Barclay, Robinson believed in universal salvation.

John Chrysostom, c. 349 – 407, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He earned fame for his preaching and public speaking. He denounced the abuse of authority by both church and political leaders. He wrote the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and showed ascetic habits. The Greek epithet Χρυσόστομος means "golden-mouthed," given for his legendary eloquence. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint. They count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, alongside Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by

Bishop Frederick Douglas Washington lived January 1, 1913, to January 12, 1988. He served as a Pentecostal minister at the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Brooklyn, New York. Rev. Al Sharpton, his most famous protege, acknowledged Washington's call as a minister when he was nine.

Rainer Maria Woelki is a German Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis appointed him on July 11 to succeed Joachim Cardinal Meisner on September 20, 2014, making him Archbishop of Cologne. Woelki previously served as Archbishop of Berlin.

Leo Yao Liang (Chinese: 姚良;1923 – December 30, 2009) was the Roman Catholic bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiwanzi, China. Yao Liang was ordained in 1946. The Chinese Communist labor camp sentenced him in 1958; he was released in 1984. The Vatican approved his ordination on February 19, 2002.

Bishop Adolph John Paschang (Chinese: 柏增主教, 16 April 1895 – 3 February 1968) was an American Maryknoll Catholic bishop. He worked as a missionary, relief worker, and educator in southern China during the early 20th century.

Gilbert Earl Patterson lived from September 22, 1939, to March 20, 2007. He was an American Pentecostal-Holiness leader and minister. Patterson served as the international Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Inc. Bishop Patterson was the second youngest person elected Presiding Bishop of COGIC at age 60 in 2000. He followed his predeceased uncle, Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., who was 56 when he was elected Presiding Bishop in 1968.

James Oglethorpe Patterson Jr. (28 May 1935 – 25 June 2011) was a Pentecostal–Holiness minister in the Church of God in Christ. He also served as the Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee.

Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, and founder of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Fan Noli served as Prime Minister and regent of Albania in 1924 during the June Revolution. Albania honors Fan Noli as a champion of literature, history, theology, diplomacy, journalism, music, and national unity. He helped establish Albanian as the national language through many translations of world literature.

Charles Harrison Mason Sr. (September 8, 1864 – November 17, 1961) was an American Pentecostal–Holiness pastor and minister. He founded the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. This church grew into the largest Pentecostal church denomination and one of the largest predominantly African-American Christian denominations in the United States.

Bishop Hezekiah Walker, born December 24, 1962, is an American gospel music artist and pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle megachurch in Brooklyn, New York. Walker released several albums on Benson Records and Verity Records as Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.

Ernest William Barnes (April 1, 1874 – November 29, 1953) was an English mathematician and scientist. He later became a liberal theologian and bishop. Barnes studied at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He served as Master of the Temple from 1915 to 1919. He became Bishop of Birmingham in 1924, the only bishop appointed during Ramsay MacDonald's first term. His modernist views, especially his objection to Reservation, caused conflict with Anglo-Catholics in his diocese. A biography by his son, Sir John Barnes, is titled Ahead of His Age: Bishop Barnes of Birmingham.

Pedro de la Gasca (June 1485 – November 13, 1567) was a Spanish bishop, diplomat, and the second (acting) viceroy of Peru. He held this role from April 10, 1547, to January 27, 1550.

William Clyde Martin (July 28, 1893–August 30, 1984) served as a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, The Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Church. Martin showed distinction in World War I military service as a Methodist Pastor. He held ecumenical ministries with the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Philippe de Vitry (October 31, 1291 – June 9, 1361) was a French composer, music theorist, and poet. Vitry created music, theory, and poetry. He composed works that were accomplished, innovative, and influential. Petrarch wrote a glowing tribute, calling him "... the keenest and most ardent seeker of truth, so great a philosopher of our age."

James Anthony Walsh, born February 24, 1867, died April 14, 1936. He co-founded the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.

Ida B. Robinson (August 3, 1891 – April 20, 1946) led the American Pentecostal-Holiness and Charismatic denomination. Robinson founded the Mount Sinai Holy Church of America, Inc. She became the first Senior Bishop and President. Robinson formed the organization based on her vision and Divine Call to welcome and encourage women preachers. Mount Sinai Holy Church of America is the only organization founded by an African-American woman that maintained female leadership from 1924 until February 2001.

Father Thomas Frederick Price (August 19, 1860 - September 12, 1919) was the American co-founder of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, also known as the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.

James Walsh may refer to:

Tor Berger Jørgensen, born December 27, 1945 in Oslo, Norway, became Bishop of the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland in the Church of Norway until 2015. Jørgensen took over as bishop of Sør-Hålogaland on November 17, 2006, from Øystein Ingar Larsen on January 28, 2007. Jørgensen served as dean of Bodø Cathedral starting in 2000 and held deputy bishop roles for various periods. Jørgensen earned his cand.theol. degree from the Misjonshøgskolen/MF Norwegian School of Theology in 1972. He worked as a mission priest in Japan for 15 years.

Henry Compton, born in 1632, became the Bishop of London from 1675 until 1713.

George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton (born November 13, 1935), retired as an Anglican bishop. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 to 2002, having previously been the Bishop of Bath and Wells. As archbishop, the Church of England ordained its first women priests. The debate over homosexuality gained traction at the 1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops. In June 2017, Carey resigned from his last church role after a finding related to covering up sex abuse allegations against bishop Peter Ball. Care resigned in February 2018.

Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayan (Latin: Gregorius Aglipay; Filipino: Gregorio Labayan Aglipay Cruz; May 5, 1860 – September 1, 1940) was a former Catholic priest. He became the first head of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, an independent Catholic Church in the Philippines. Aglipay incited patriotic rebellion among Filipino clergy. He also acted as a political activist and met Isabelo de los Reyes, who started an Independent Christian Filipino Church named after Aglipay in 1902. Archbishop Berna previously excommunicated Aglipay.

Peter Boehler, born Petrus Böhler (December 31, 1712 – April 27, 1775), was a German-English Moravian bishop and missionary. Boehler influenced the Moravian Church in the Americas and England during the eighteenth century. Boehler was one of the missionaries sent to the Americas by Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf, the leader of the Moravian Church. Boehler spread the religion across Georgia and other American colonies as part of the first large-scale Protestant missionary movement. In 1740, Boehler moved with other Moravians to Pennsylvania, where they founded

Richard Douglas Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth (born June 2, 1936), retired as a bishop of the Church of England and a former British Army officer. Harries was the Bishop of Oxford from 1987 to 2006. From 2008 to 2012, he served as the Gresham Professor of Divinity.

Edsel Albert Ammons, who lived from February 17, 1924, to December 24, 2010, was an American Bishop in the United Methodist Church, elected in 1976.

Benjamin W. Arnett, an African-American educator, minister, bishop, and Ohio House of Representatives member, lived from March 6, 1838, to October 7, 1906.

Brian Arthur Smith DD, born August 15, 1943, served as the Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Charles Edward Blake Sr., born August 5, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas, now presides over the Church of God in Christ, Inc., a Pentecostal-Holiness denomination with 6 million members. Gilbert E. Patterson's death on March 21, 2007, made Blake the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. In a November 2007 special election, Blake won the unexpired term as Presiding Bishop. Bishop Blake was re-elected to a four-year term as Presiding Bishop in November 2008. Bishop Blake was re-elected in November 2012.

Robert Leighton (1611 – June 25, 1684) was a Scottish prelate and scholar. He served as a church minister, Bishop of Dunblane, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1653 to 1662. People noted his Christian piety, humility, gentleness, and devotion to his calling.

Saint Nicholas of Myra (traditionally March 15, 270 – December 6, 342), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of the Greek city of Myra in Asia Minor (Ancient Greek: Μύρα, modern-day Demre, Turkey) during the Roman Empire. Many miracles attributed to his intercession make him Nicholas the Wonderworker. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint for sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students across Europe. His reputation grew among the faithful.

Carolyn Tanner Irish, born April 14, 1940, is a retired American bishop. She served as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. She became the fourth woman in the Episcopal Church to hold the bishop office when she was elected and consecrated in 1996.

Eric Austin Gowing (March 11, 1913 - June 3, 1981) was the seventh Anglican Bishop of Auckland. His episcopate covered a long period during the second half of the 20th century. Born in Sydney, Australia, Gowing studied at North Sydney High School and the universities of Sydney and Oxford. He began his ordained ministry as a curate at St Mary's Deane Stafford. After serving at St Peter's Norbiton, he moved to New Zealand in 1950. There, he became Vicar of Merivale and Archdeacon of Christchurch before his appointment to the episcopal see of Auckland in 1960; he was consecrated a

Donnie Williams is an American martial artist, author, actor, bishop, and Senior Pastor of The Family Church International. Donnie Williams was one of four skilled martial artists. Steve Sanders, Cliff Stewart, and Jerry Smith organized and founded "The Black Karate Federation." This group helped South Central Los Angeles kids in the 1970s.

Richard Nelson Williamson, born March 8, 1940, is an English traditionalist Catholic bishop. He opposed changes in the Catholic Church from the Second Vatican Council. Williamson was a member of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) and was excommunicated. The excommunication was lifted in 2009, but German courts convicted him of denying the Holocaust and inciting related views, leading the Pope to reimpose the excommunication. Williamson was expelled from the society in 2012. In 1988, Williamson was one of four SSPX priests who were illegally ordained.

Peter John Hollingworth, born April 10, 1935, is an Australian retired Anglican bishop. He worked in social work for decades. He served as the archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane for 11 years, from 1989. He won the 1991 Australian of the Year. Hollingworth served as the 23rd Governor-General of Australia from 2001 to 2003. He also wrote books and received various civil and church honors. In 2003, he became the third Australian governor-general to resign, following criticism about his conduct as Archbishop of Brisbane in the 1990s.

Randy Alan White is a philanthropist and activist. He co-founded Without Walls International Church, a large, influential, non-denominational, charismatic church in Florida. White retired from ministry in 2009. He started the Kristen Renee Foundation in Frederick, Maryland, honoring his daughter, Kristen Renee. The foundation has three goals: find a cure for brain cancer, help the poor, and provide disaster relief. This is a charitable non-profit organization. The Kristen Renee Foundation launched a project called Fighting For Frederick.

Øystein Ingar Larsen was Bishop of the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland from 1992 to 2006. Larsen grew up in Høyenhall, Aker. He earned his cand.theol. degree from the MF Norwegian School of Theology in 1966. He became a priest in 1967. Larsen worked for the Norwegian Inner Mission from 1968 to 1972. From 1972 to 1979, he was the resident chaplain at Høybråten. From 1979 to 1986, he worked at the School of Theology. From 1986 to 1992, he was the parish priest at Furuset. He was appointed bishop of Sør-Hålogaland in 1992 and kept the position until his retirement on December 1, 2006.

George Pell, born June 8, 1941, is an Australian cardinal in the Catholic Church and a convicted child sex offender. Pell served as the first Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy from 2014 to 2019. He was a member of the Council of Cardinal Advisers from 2013 to 2018. Pell previously held several archbishop roles: eighth Archbishop of Sydney (2001–2014), seventh Archbishop of Melbourne (1996–2001), and auxiliary bishop of Melbourne (1987–1996). The Church created him a cardinal in 2003. He was ordained in 1966. Pell also writes, columns, and speaks publicly since becoming Archbishop of Melbourne.

José Bezerra Coutinho (February 7, 1910 – November 7, 2008) was a Brazilian bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. At 98 years old, he was the sixth-oldest bishop in the Catholic Church and the oldest Brazilian bishop.

Clement, who died in 1258, was a 13th-century Dominican friar. He became the first Dominican Order member in Britain and Ireland to become a bishop. In 1233, Clement led the struggling diocese of Dunblane in Scotland. He fought to make the bishopric of Dunblane (or "bishopric of Strathearn") financially sound. This required many talks with religious bodies and secular leaders who had taken control of the money Clement's bishopric normally earned. The talks proved hard, forcing Clement to...

Filippo Gibbone served as a bishop in Naples, Italy. He gained fame for a book on Saint Antonino Abate. Gibbone published the book in 1885; its official name was "Vita del santo abate Antonino di Campagna." After writing the book, he died alone in his hometown. All his family moved to America. He tried to get them back by offering them his book profits and good dealings. No one returned.

James Bruce (La: Jacobus de Brois), who died in 1447, was a 15th-century cleric. He held the positions of bishop of Dunkeld, Chancellor of Scotland, and bishop of Glasgow.

John de Carrick, who died around 1380, was from Carrick, Scotland. He served as the Chancellor of Scotland and was an elected bishop of Dunkeld. John's exact origins are unclear, but he seems to come from a line of the old native comital family of Carrick. Later evidence suggests he studied canon law, though the university is unknown. By the early 1360s, John was Chancellor of the Glasgow diocese during William Rae's time as bishop (1339–1367). He held the Moffat parish church in Annandale as a prebend. In political circles, he linked with Archbald the Grim, Lord of Galloway.

Eusebius of Caesarea (Greek: Εὐσέβιος τῆς Καισαρείας, Eusébios tés Kaisareías; AD 260/265 – 339/340), also Eusebius Pamphili (Greek: Εὐσέβιος τοῦ Παμϕίλου), wrote as a historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian polemicist. He became bishop of Caesarea Maritima around 314 AD. Eusebius and Pamphilus studied the Biblical canon and are seen as highly learned Christians of their time. He wrote *Demonstrations of the Gospel*, *Preparations for the Gospel*, and *On Discrepancies between the Gospels*, which are studies of the Biblical text. He is called the "Father of Church History."