Retired Episcopal Church Editor Dies
Diocesan Press Service. February 27, 1974 [74064]
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- William E. Leidt, for more than 40 years on the staff of the National (later Executive) Council of the Episcopal Church, died here February 27 after a long illness. He was 73 years of age.
At the time of his retirement in 1963, Mr. Leidt was Director of Publications, a post he had held since 1939.
Mr. Leidt had been with the Council for 41 years following his 1922 graduation from Harvard College. Beginning as assistant secretary in the Department of Missions, forerunner of the Overseas Department, he became Secretary for Missionary Education in the Department of Christian Education five years later.
In 1929 he became associate editor of the Church's missionary magazine, "The Spirit of Missions." When the magazine's name was changed in 1940 to "Forth," he became editor and served in that capacity for 20 years. Since April, 1960, the Church's magazine has been called "The Episcopalian" under a new board set up by General Convention.
Presiding Bishop Arthur Lichtenberger appointed Mr. Leidt in 1961 to be in charge of American-prepared materials for the Anglican Congress which met in Toronto in 1963. Preparation materials that he wrote and edited for the Congress included parish bulletins, a map of the Anglican Communion and its 18 national churches, a pamphlet called "The Anglican Congress and You," and a book, Anglican Mosaic, a descriptive survey of the Anglican Communion.
Mr. Leidt was the author of several other books and of articles on the Episcopal Church in several encyclopedias.
In addition to his diverse duties at the Council, Mr. Leidt was also an instructor in missions at the New York Training School for Deaconesses and an instructor in the School of Education of New York University.
At the time of his retirement, a special award was established by the Executive Council in Mr. Leidt's honor. The William E. Leidt Award for Excellence for Outstanding Religious Reporting in the Secular Press is presented annually to the person who publishes the best religious writing in the secular press.
Mr. Leidt is survived by his widow, the former Sarah Cadoo, two sons, one daughter, and 11 grandchildren.