Bishop William Lawrence Dies at Age 79
Diocesan Press Service. January 27, 1969 [73-17]
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Rt. Rev. William Appleton Lawrence, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, died on December 21 following a heart attack. He was 79. Memorial services were held in Christ Church Cathedral on January 13.
Bishop Lawrence headed the Diocese from 1936 to 1957 and during that time was active in civil rights, ecumenical and world peace causes. He was an overseer and member of several visiting committees at Harvard University and a past trustee of General Theological Seminary, Wellesley College and Lenox School.
His father, the Rt. Rev. William L. Lawrence, was Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts. A brother, the Rt. Rev. Frederick C. Lawrence, is Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts.