Walter Taylor Sumner (December 5, 1873 – September 4, 1935) was the fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon from 1915 to 1935.

Early life

Sumner was born in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

on December 15, 1873, to parents Charles D. Sumner and Orintha A. Thompson. He was raised a

Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

but was confirmed as an Episcopalian during college. He was educated at the public schools of Manchester, later received a bachelor's degree in science from

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College ( ) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the America ...

in 1898, after which he worked for the

Western Electric Company Western Electric Co., Inc. was an American electrical engineering and manufacturing company that operated from 1869 to 1996. A subsidiary of the AT&T Corporation for most of its lifespan, Western Electric was the primary manufacturer, supplier, ...

. He studied for the priesthood at

Western Theological Seminary Western Theological Seminary (WTS) is a private seminary located in Holland, Michigan. Established in 1866, it is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States ...

, and graduated in 1904. He was also awarded a Doctor of Divinity from

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

Career

Sumner was ordained to the diaconate on November 7, 1903, and to the priesthood on May 29, 1904 by Coadjutor Bishop Charles P. Anderson of Chicago. Sumner was in charge of St. George Mission, Grand Crossing,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. By 1906 he became Dean of the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Sumner was elected Fourth Bishop of

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

, on September 16, 1914, serving until his death in 1935. He was consecrated on January 6, 1915.

Death

Sumner died on September 4, 1935, in the Good Samaritan Hospital in

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

. He was buried in Manchester, New Hampshire.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sumner, Walter T. 1873 births 1935 deaths Episcopal Church in Oregon Episcopal bishops of Oregon Converts to Anglicanism from Baptist denominations Western Theological Seminary alumni Dartmouth College alumni