Robert Nelson Spencer (February 18, 1877 – August 19, 1961) was a hymn writer and the third bishop of West Missouri in The Episcopal Church, serving from October 28, 1930, to 1949.

Early life and education

Spencer was born on February 18, 1877, in Tunnel, New York, the son of Nelson Horatio Spencer and Hannah E. Pratt. He studied at

Dickinson College Dickinson College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1773 as Carlisle Grammar School, Dickinson was chartered on September 9, 1783, ...

between 1896 and 1899, and then at the Kansas Theological School, from where he graduated in 1904. He was 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 ...

in 1931 and a

Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...

in 1943 from Dickson.

Ordained ministry

Spencer was ordained deacon on April 5, 1904, and priest on June 4, 1905, by Bishop Frank Rosebrook Millspaugh of Kansas. He married Amy Frances Moffatt on September 14, 1905, and together had a daughter. He was rector of the Church of the Covenant in

Junction City, Kansas Junction City is a city in and the county seat of Geary County, Kansas, Geary County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 22,932. Fort Riley, a major United States Army, U.S. ...

, and special preacher at

Fort Riley Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...

between 1904 and 1907. He was then rector of St John's Church in

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the List of cities in Missouri, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County, Missouri, Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...

, from 1907 to 1909. In 1909 he transferred to Grace and Holy Trinity Church in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

, to serve as its rector, where he remained until 1930. He was also chaplain Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City between 1923 and 1930.

Bishop

Spencer was elected Coadjutor Bishop of West Missouri during it 41st annual convention at Christ Church in

St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...

, on May 13, 1930. Since Bishop Partridge died a month after the elected, he automatically became the diocesan bishop elect. He was consecrated on October 28, 1930, in Grace and Holy Trinity Church by the Bishop of West Texas

William Theodotus Capers William Theodotus Capers (August 9, 1867 – March 29, 1943) was bishop of the Diocese of West Texas in the Episcopal Church in the United States from 1916 until his death. Early life and education Capers was born on August 9, 1867, in Greenv ...

. He served as acting Missionary Bishop of Salina between 1939 and 1941. He retired in 1949 and died on August 19, 1961, in Ludington, Michigan. He was buried at Forest Hill Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City. A senior living facility in

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more t ...

is named for him.

Hymns

Spencer also wrote hymn texts. Notably he contributed to the well known hymn '' Eternal Father, Strong to Save'' and wrote ''O heavenly grace in holy rite descending''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Robert Nelson 1877 births 1961 deaths Episcopal bishops of West Missouri Dickinson College alumni