James Duncan (bishop)


James Loughlin Duncan
Bishop of Southeast Florida
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseSoutheast Florida
ElectedMay 28, 1969
In office1969–1980
SuccessorCalvin O. Schofield, Jr.
Orders
OrdinationJuly 1939
by Henry J. Mikell
ConsecrationDecember 20, 1961
by Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Personal details
Born
James Loughlin Duncan

(1913-09-11)September 11, 1913
DiedJuly 20, 2000(2000-07-20) (aged 86)
Miami, Florida, United States
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsRobert Duncan & Mary O'Loughlin
SpouseEvelyn Burgess (m. 1943, d. 1967)
Elaine Gaither (m. 1967)
Children3
Previous post(s)Suffragan Bishop of South Florida (1961-1969)

James Loughlin Duncan (September 11, 1913 – July 20, 2000), the first Bishop of Southeast Florida, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, the son of Scottish and Irish immigrants Robert Duncan and his wife, Mary (O'Loughlin) Duncan. He died in 2000, a resident of Coral Gables, Florida.[1]

Education[edit]

James Loughlin Duncan attended Emory University and received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1935 and a Master of Arts (MA) in 1936. He studied theology at the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee and received a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) in 1939, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity (hon DD) in 1962.[1] He was an initiate of the Kappa Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order, later transferring to the Epsilon Chapter, and finally to the Alpha Alpha Chapter. From 1955-1957 he served as the Knight Commander of the Order.

Ministry[edit]

James L. Duncan was ordained to the diaconate in July 1938 and to the priesthood in July 1939, both by Bishop Henry J. Mikell of Atlanta. He served as curate of All Saints Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, from 1939 to 1940, when he left to become rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in Rome, Georgia, where he stayed until 1945. From 1945 to 1950, he was rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, in Winter Park, Florida, His last rectorship at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in St. Petersburg, Florida began in 1950 and ended in 1961 when he was elected suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Florida. In 1969, he was elected the first bishop of the newly formed Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and served until he retired in 1980.[1]

After retirement, Duncan remained active in the diocese. He served on the board of Trinity Episcopal School (now Palmer Trinity School) and taught seventh grade religion there from 1983 to 1985.

The Duncan Center in Delray Beach, Florida, is named in his honor.

Family[edit]

James L. Duncan married Evelyn Burgess on July 27, 1943. They had three children, and eight grand-children. She died in January 1967, and Duncan married Elaine Lucille Beisler Gaither on October 7, 1967 (Elaine is the maternal grandmother of actor Billy Crudup).[1][2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Episcopal Clerical Directory, 1981 New York: The Church Hymnal Corporation, p. 181
  2. ^ Trinkner, C.L. (1966). Florida Lives: The Sunshine State Who's Who, a Reference Edition Recording the Biographies of Contemporary Leaders in Florida. Historical Record Association. Retrieved 2015-08-20.

External links[edit]

Episcopal Church (USA) titles
New title Bishop of Southeast Florida
1969–1980
Succeeded by