Edward Trail Helfenstein (April 7, 1865 – December 22, 1947) was the eighth bishop of the

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland forms part of Province 3 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Province 3 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Having been divided twice, it no longer includes all of Marylan ...

, serving in that capacity from 1929 till 1943.

Early life and education

Helfenstein was born on April 7, 1865, in

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

, the son of Cyrus Glonigan Helfenstein and Annie Elizabeth Trail. He was baptised in

All Saints Church All Saints Church, or All Saints' Church or variations on the name may refer to: Albania * All Saints' Church, Himarë Australia * All Saints Church, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory * All Saints Anglican Church, Brisbane, Queensland *All ...

Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a city in, and the county seat of, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Frederick's population was 78,171 people as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Maryland, second-largest ...

. He attended the Frederick Academy in

, and then the Episcopal High School of Virginia. He also studied for a time at the

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

and then graduated from

Virginia Theological Seminary Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), formally the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is an Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. It is the largest and second-oldest such accredited se ...

in 1889. He was also awarded a

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (DD or DDiv; ) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity (academic discipline), divinity (i.e., Christian theology and Christian ministry, ministry or other theologies. The term is more common in the Englis ...

1916 by Virginia Theological Seminary.

Ordained ministry

Helfenstein was ordained deacon on March 19, 1889, by Bishop

William Paret William Paret (September 23, 1826 – January 18, 1911) was the 137th bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and was a bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Early life and education William Paret was born in New Y ...

of Maryland and then became deacon-in-charge of Christ Church in Rock Spring, Maryland and Holy Cross Church in The Rocks

Harford County, Maryland Harford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 260,924. Its county seat is Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, Bel Air. Harford County is included in the Wa ...

. He was ordained priest on March 9, 1890, in Emmanuel Church,

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

, also by Bishop

. Between 1889 and 1890, he served as rector of Saint Mark's parish, covering Frederick and Washington counties. Afterwards he became rector of Saint John's Church in

Ellicott City, Maryland Ellicott City is an Unincorporated area#United States, unincorporated community and census-designated place in, and the county seat of, Howard County, Maryland, Howard County, Maryland, United States. Part of the Baltimore metropolitan area, its ...

, in 1900 and subsequently also rector of Saint Peter's Church in

, retaining both posts till 1920. He was then appointed Archdeacon of Maryland in 1920.

Bishop

Helfenstein was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Maryland during a diocesan convention held in Baltimore in 1926. He was consecrated on December 28, 1926, by Presiding Bishop and Bishop of Maryland John Gardner Murray. He then succeeded Murray as diocesan upon his death on October 3, 1929. He retired on November 1, 1943, and died on December 22, 1947, after a brief illness.

References

External links

* 1865 births 1947 deaths Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia) alumni Johns Hopkins University alumni Virginia Theological Seminary alumni Clergy from St. Louis People from Frederick, Maryland Episcopal bishops of Maryland {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub