The Living Church

Year Article Type Limit by Author

The Living ChurchMarch 24, 1996First Suffragan for South Carolina by Kendall S. Harmon212(12) p. 6

In a service which included national and international participants, the Rev. William J. Skilton was consecrated as the first Suffragan Bishop of South Carolina March 2 at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston. The Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop, was the chief consecrator.

Co-consecrators were the Rt. Rev. Edward Salmon, 13th Bishop of South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, 12th Bishop of South Carolina, and the Rt. Rev. Gray Temple, 11th Bishop of South Carolina. Many other bishops were present, including the Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of Honduras; the Rt. Rev. Leopold Alard, Suffragan Bishop of Texas; and the Rt. Rev. Onell Soto, Assistant Bishop of Atlanta.

The Rt. Rev. Julio C. Holguin, Bishop of the Dominican Republic, was among the presenters, and the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac, retired Bishop of the Dominican Republic and currently Assistant Bishop of Southwest Florida, preached.

The 55-year-old Bishop Skilton, former rector of St. Thomas' Church in North Charleston, is known throughout the diocese for his emphasis on mission and the need for unity among Christians of all races.

Born in Cuba, he spent some 10 years serving churches in the Dominican Republic. Several former parishioners from that country attended the ceremony, after which they presented him with gifts, including a mahogany chalice.

Bishop Skilton's crozier, given by the clergy of the diocese, was designed to reflect the theme of transformation. As one follows the crozier from its base, a piece of solid black walnut is transformed at the crook into a diving pelican.

(The Rev.) Kendall S. Harmon