Connecticut Elects Walmsley Coadjutor
Episcopal News Service. June 21, 1979 [79205]
HARTFORD -- The Rev. Arthur E. Walmsley, Rector of St. Paul's Church, New Haven was elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut at a special convention here June 15.
Father Walmsley's election came on the sixth ballot. He had been in second place, in a field of 12 candidates, to the Bishop of Western Massachusetts, the Rt. Rev. Alexander D. Stewart, until the fifth ballot.
In his sermon at the Eucharist opening the Convention, the present Diocesan, the Rt. Rev. Morgan Porteus, said he would immediately turn over responsibility in several areas, including the care and oversight of all aided parishes and missions, decisions on matrimonial questions, and issuance of Lay Readers' and Chalice Administrators' licenses, to the person elected. Without giving any indication of when he plans to retire, he also stated that he would gradually increase the responsibilities of the Coadjutor until his retirement.
Father Walmsley, a native of New Bedford, Mass., received his BA. from Trinity College, Hartford, and his M. Div. (cum laude) from Episcopal Theological School Cambridge, Mass.
After beginning his ministry in Missouri, he spent ten years in staff positions for the Executive Council, including three years as Associate Director of the Christian Social Relations Department in the mid-60s. He also served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches 1969-72, and briefly as Deputy to the Rector of Trinity Church, New York City. For the past five years he has been Rector of St. Paul's, New Haven.
Father Walmsley is married to Roberta B. Chapin, a social worker for the Wallingford school system. The have two children: Elizabeth, 21, and John, 19.