This week in Christian history: Chick Tracts founder dies, pope ordains 6 Chinese bishops

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, October 22, 2023

Thomas Brownell consecrated bishop – Oct. 27, 1819

Thomas Church Brownell (1779-1865), a former presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Thomas Church Brownell, a presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and founder of Trinity College of Hartford, Connecticut, was consecrated bishop of Connecticut.

A native of Westport, Massachusetts, Brownell had been ordained a priest in 1816 and was serving at Trinity Church of New York when he was elected bishop of Connecticut.

In 1823, he helped found Washington College, which was later renamed Trinity College in 1845 and served as its president until 1831. In 1852, he became the presiding bishop of the denomination.

He also authored several books, including an autobiography and, perhaps most notably, the 1843 opus Commentary on the Book of Common Prayer.