Joseph Horsfall Johnson (June 7, 1847- May 16, 1928) was the first Bishop of Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church.

Early life and education

Johnson was born on June 7, 1847 in

Schenectady, New York Schenectady ( ) is a City (New York), city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populo ...

, the son of Stephen Hotchkiss Johnson and Eleanor Horsfall. He studied at

Williams College Williams College is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim ...

and graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in 1870. He then enrolled at the

General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating ...

from where he graduated in 1873. He was awarded with 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 ...

from Nashotah House in 1895, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary in 1908.

Ordained ministry

Johnson was ordained deacon on June 29, 1873 at the Church of the Transfiguration, and priest on May 29, 1874 in the chapel of the House of Mercy in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

by Bishop Horatio Potter. He was in charge of Holy Trinity Church in Highland, New York from 1873 to 1879. He then became rector of Trinity Church in

Bristol, Rhode Island Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States, as well as the county seat. The population of Bristol was 22,493 at the 2020 census. It is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England. Major industries include boat buil ...

between 1879 and 1881, and then of St Peter’s Church in

The Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

from 1881 until 1886. He then served as rector of Christ Church in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

between 1886 and 1896.

Episcopacy

On December 3, 1895 Johnson was elected as the first Bishop of Los Angeles and was consecrated on February 24, 1896 by Bishop Thomas Frederick Davies of Michigan. He founded The Bishop's School in

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and served on the

Pomona College Pomona College ( ) is a private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It was established in 1887 by a group of Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists ...

board of trustees. The Bishop Johnson College of Nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital was named for him. He was the father of architect Reginald Davis Johnson.

References

1847 births 1928 deaths Williams College alumni Episcopal bishops of Los Angeles General Theological Seminary alumni {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub