From South Carolina-Imagine the scene: The Diocese of South Carolina’s bishop was in his office at St. Philip’s Church in downtown Charleston when one of his own priests stormed in, unhinged by rage.
The armed priest was irate about Bishop William Alexander Guerry’s efforts to advance racial equality in the church. The priest shot Guerry. Then he shot and killed himself.
Guerry died four days later at Roper Hospital, reportedly uttering Jesus’ words: “Forgive him, Father, he knew not what he did.”
The tragic scene took place on June 5, 1928, 85 years ago this past week.
To honor Guerry, Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston is celebrating a “feast day” today and is dedicating a chapel in the church to the bishop’s memory.
Guerry is not officially on the list of “Holy Women, Holy Men,” a compilation of church saints published by the Episcopal Church. However, Grace members and others are taking early steps to get his story out there in hopes that one day he will become the first South Carolinian to be included. “It’s quite a story,” said diocesan Chancellor Thomas Tisdale, who is in the final writing stages of a play about Guerry. “He is a hero.”
Yet when Tisdale began researching Guerry’s history, he was surprised how few lifelong Episcopalians in town knew much about the bishop’s violent demise or his beliefs. “It’s like it has been erased,” Tisdale said.
More here-
http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130609%2FPC1204%2F130609378%2F1015%2Fchurch-honors-sc-bishop-killed-in-his-charleston-office
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