Thomas Campbell Darst (November 10, 1875 – September 1, 1948) was the third Bishop of the

Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States that covers most of eastern North Carolina. The diocese was formed from the existing Diocese of North Carolina on October 9, 1883, by action of the ...

from 1915 to 1945.

Early life and education

Darst was born on November 10, 1875, in

Pulaski, Virginia Pulaski is a town in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,086 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pulaski County. Pulaski is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area. History Pulaski was incorpora ...

, the son of Major Thomas Welch Darst and Margaret Rebecca Glendy. He was raised as a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

. He was educated in public schools in Pulaski and later in Salem. He graduated from

Roanoke College Roanoke College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia. It has approximately 2,000 students who represent approximately 40 states and 30 countries. The college offers ...

in 1899. He then also joined the Episcopal Church. He also enrolled at the

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 ...

where he trained for the priesthood and graduated in 1902. On November 5, 1902, he married Florence Newton Wise. After her death in 1914, he married Fannie Lauriston Hardin on April 26, 1916. He had sons from the first marriage and a daughter from the second. 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 ...

from the Virginia Seminary in 1914, University of the South in 1915,

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the Public university, public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referre ...

in 1927 and

Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...

in 1934.

Ordained ministry

Darst was ordained deacon in June 1902 by Bishop George William Peterkin of West Virginia and priest in June 1903 by William Loyall Gravatt, Coadjutor Bishop of Virginia. Between 1902 and 1903, he served as assistant at Christ Church in

Fairmont, West Virginia Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 18,313 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in West Virginia, eighth-most populous city in ...

, while between 1903 and 1905 he was rector of Trinity Church in

Upperville, Virginia Upperville is a small unincorporated village in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States, along U.S. Route 50 fifty miles from downtown Washington, D.C. and near the Loudoun County line. Founded in the 1790s along Pantherskin Creek, it was origi ...

, Emmanuel Church in

Middleburg, Virginia Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 673 as of the 2010 census. It is the southernmost town along Loudoun County's shared border with Fauquier County. Middleburg is known as the "Nation's Horse ...

and Redeemer Church in

Aldie, Virginia Aldie is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located between Chantilly and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The historic village of Aldie is located on the John Mosby Highway (U.S. Route 50) in a ...

. In 1905 he became rector of St Mark's Church in

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

, while in 1909 he transferred to

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the List of c ...

to become rector of St Paul's Church. Between 1914 and 1915 he served as rector of St James' Church in

Bishop

Darst was elected Bishop of East Carolina on October 7, 1914, and consecrated on January 6, 1915, in St James' Church,

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

by Presiding Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle. He retired on May 1, 1945, and was succeeded by

Tom Wright (Bishop of East Carolina) Thomas Henry Wright (October 16, 1904 – April 26, 1997) was fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina from 1945 till 1973. Early life and education Wright was born on October 16, 1904, in Wilmington, North Carolina, the son of Joh ...

. He died on September 1, 1948, at the James Walker Memorial Hospital in

after suffering a heart attack. His funeral was held at St James' Wilmington and buried at the Oakdale Cemetery.

References

1875 births 1948 deaths 20th-century Anglican bishops in the United States Burials at Oakdale Cemetery (Wilmington, North Carolina) People from Pulaski, Virginia Converts to Anglicanism from Presbyterianism Roanoke College alumni Virginia Theological Seminary alumni Episcopal bishops of East Carolina {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub