About the Institute
The “Blessed Charles Grafton Institute” was organized in 2008 with the intention to meet quarterly to commemorate Blessed Charles Chapman Grafton Grafton and to study his writings. The Rt. Rev. Charles Chapman Grafton (1830-1912) was Second Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. An ardent supporter of the Oxford Movement (which developed Anglo-Catholicism in the American Episcopal Church), his influence on the Episcopal Church are varied and many.
Study Days
Study days are hosted at the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Bishop Grafton's writings are easily accessed at Project Canterbury. If other congregations or sites desire to host Study Days of their own, contact Fr. Brian Beno to inquire about details to begin your own program.
Commemoration
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2007 Commemoration with |
The Commemoration of Blessed Charles Chapman Grafton is observed as a Feast Day on August 30th. This Feast Day was affirmed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2009 for inclusion into the Church Calendar.
Associations
The “Blessed Charles Grafton Institute” is not associated with any other church group and functions under authority of the Bishop of Fond du Lac who endorses and supports its functioning and encourages all who have interest to participate in its meetings.
Questions
Please contact Fr. Brian Beno at (920) 921-3363 or brianbeno@charter.net.
About Bishop Grafton
From "An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians," Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors
(Apr. 12, 1830-Aug. 30. 1912). Co-founder of the Society of St. John the Evangelist and Anglo-catholic bishop. He was born in Boston. Grafton came under the influence of William Croswell, the founder of the Church of the Advent, Boston, which was a leading Anglo-catholic parish. He was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1851. In 1853 he graduated from Harvard with a degree in law but found himself drawn toward the ordained ministry. Grafton studied theology under Bishop William Whittingham of Maryland and was ordained deacon on Dec. 23, 1855. He began his ordained ministry as assistant at Reisterstown, Maryland. On May 30, 1858, he was ordained priest and served as curate at St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, and chaplain of the deaconesses of the Diocese of Maryland. At the close of the Civil War he went to England and with Richard Meux Benson and Simeon Wilberforce O'Neill founded the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), also known as the Cowley Fathers. SSJE is the oldest Anglican monastic order for men. Grafton returned to the United States, and in 1872 became the head of the American Province of SSJE as well as the rector of the Church of the Advent, Boston. A jurisdictional dispute concerning Grafton's overseas religious superior led to his withdrawal from SSJE. In 1888 he was a founder of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity, along with Mother Ruth Margaret. On Apr. 25, 1889, Grafton was consecrated Bishop of Fond du Lac, where he served until his death. Grafton's publications included Plain Suggestions for a Reverent Celebration of the Holy Communion (2d ed., 1898), and A Journey Godward of a Servant of Jesus Christ (1910). The fullness of ceremonial accompanying the consecration of Grafton's bishop coadjutor led to a controversy known as the "Fond du Lac Circus." Grafton died in Fond du Lac. See Church of the Advent, Boston; see Society of St. John the Evangelist, The (SSJE) (Cowley Fathers); see Fond du Lac Circus.