Bishop Thomas Henry Wright

Sub-Sub-Sub-Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This sub-sub-sub-series contains material related to Bishop Thomas Henry Wright (1904-1997), who served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina from 1945-1973. Content includes biographical information, consecration ephemera and photographs, details of his missionary work in Asia, correspondence and speeches, programs for services over which he presided, and printed material about him, his retirement, and dedication of his cross at St. James.

Dates

Creation: 1721-2017

Creator

From the Collection: St. James Church (Wilmington, N.C.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Access to portions of this collection have been restricted by Special Collections in order to preserve the original materials and pursuant to extant statutory restrictions. Contact staff at the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History (csencah@uncw.edu) for information on access to this collection.

Biographical Note

Bishop Thomas Henry Wright was born in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1904. He was part of the first graduating class of New Hanover High School in 2022 and later graduated from the University of the South in 1926, before attending the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained at St. James Church in 1929 and served at several churches across North Carolina and other states, before he was consecrated as Bishop of East Carolina in 1945, again at St. James Church. He was, at the time, the youngest bishop consecrated in the American Episcopal Church. He traveled around the world from 1960-1970 as the chairman of overseas work for the national Episcopal Church. He retired in 1972 and died in April 1997. He was buried in the church at St. James Parish.

Extent

From the Collection: 62 Containers (Contains 24 bankers boxes, 10 document boxes, 6 oversize boxes, 4 photo albums, 5 tube boxes, 7 card file boxes, and 6 flat files.)