Thomas C. Darst

The Right Reverend Thomas Campbell Darst D.D.
Bishop of East Carolina
Church	Episcopal Church
Diocese	East Carolina
Elected	October 7, 1914
In office	1915–1945
Predecessor	Robert Strange
Successor	Tom Wright
Orders
Ordination	June 1903 by William Loyall Gravatt
Consecration	January 6, 1915 by Daniel S. Tuttle
Personal details
Born	(1875-11-10)November 10, 1875 Pulaski, Virginia, United States
Died	September 1, 1948(1948-09-01) (aged 72) Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Buried	Oakdale Cemetery
Nationality	American
Denomination	Anglican (prev. Presbyterian)
Parents	Thomas Welch Darst & Margaret Rebecca Glendy
Spouse	Florence Newton Wise (m. 1902, d.1914) Fannie Lauriston Hardin (m. 1916)
Children	4
Alma mater	Roanoke College

Thomas Campbell Darst (November 10, 1875 – September 1, 1948) was the third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina from 1915 to 1945.

Early life and education

Darst was born on November 10, 1875, in Pulaski, Virginia, the son of Major Thomas Welch Darst and Margaret Rebecca Glendy. He was raised as a Presbyterian. He was educated in public schools in Pulaski and later in Salem. He graduated from Roanoke College in 1899. He then also joined the Episcopal Church. He also enrolled at the Virginia Theological Seminary 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 from the Virginia Seminary in 1914, University of the South in 1915, University of North Carolina in 1927 and Duke University in 1934.[1]

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, while between 1903 and 1905 he was rector of Trinity Church in Upperville, Virginia, Emmanuel Church in Middleburg, Virginia and Redeemer Church in Aldie, Virginia. In 1905 he became rector of St Mark's Church in Richmond, Virginia, while in 1909 he transferred to Newport News, Virginia to become rector of St Paul's Church.[2] Between 1914 and 1915 he served as rector of St James' Church in Richmond, Virginia.[3]

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 by Presiding Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle. He retired on May 1, 1945, and was succeeded by Tom Wright (Bishop of East Carolina).[4] He died on September 1, 1948, at the James Walker Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina after suffering a heart attack. His funeral was held at St James' Wilmington and buried at the Oakdale Cemetery.[5]

References

1. Schwarz, J. C. (1941). "Robert Strange". Religious Leaders of America. 2: 276.
2. De Rosset, W. L. (1939). "Robert Strange". One Hundredth Anniversary Commemorating the Building of St. James Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, April 30th and May 1st, 1939: The Two Hundred and Tenth Year of the Parish.
3. Powell, William, S. (2000 ). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: Vol. 2, D-G, Volume 2, p. 18. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. ISBN 0807867012.
4. "Bishop Darst of East Carolina will retire May 1st". The Living Church. 109 (23): 5. 3 December 1944.
5. "Bishop Darst dies". The Living Church. 117 (12): 5. 19 September 1948.