University of Virginia Library

RT. REV. ROBERT A. GIBSON, D. D.

BY REV. R. A. GOODWIN.

Rt. Rev. Robert A. Gibson, D. D., sixth Bishop of Virginia,
was born in Petersburg, Va., on July 9, 1846.

He is the son of Rev. Churchill J. Gibson, D. D., who for
more than fifty years was the rector of Grace Church, Petersburg,
Va.

His mother was, before her marriage to Dr. Gibson, Miss
Lucy Fitzhugh Atkinson, sistor of Bishop Atkinson, of North
Carolina.

Bishop Gibson was educated at the Episcopal High School,
near Alexandria, Va., at Mt. Laurel Academy and at Hampden
Sidney College. He studied theology at the Theological
Seminary of Virginia, graduating in 1870.

Though but a boy, he was in the Confederate Army. As
a member of the Rockbridge Artillery he loyally and faithfully
served his country in the last trying year of the war
between the States, and reluctantly surrendered with his
command at Appomattox.

He was ordained deacon by Bishop Whittle in the chapel
of the Theological Seminary, June 24, 1870. Immediately
after his ordination he began work as missionary of what
was then called the Southeastern Convocation of Virginia.
He labored faithfully to revive old Parishes which had been
desolated by war, and to open new places for the Church in
Dinwiddie, Nottoway and three other counties on the south
side of James river. While engaged in this work, he was
ordained priest by Bishop Johns in Grace Church, Petersburg,
Va., on the 4th of June, 1871.

Obliged by sickness to leave this field of missionary work,
after eighteen months of active service, he became assistant
to Rev. Dr. Peterkin, of St. James Church, Richmond, Va.,
and continued in that position for six years. The last four
years of this time his energies were given chiefly to Moore
Memorial Chapel (now the Church of the Holy Trinity),
which had been built by St. James' congregation as a mission.

While assistant at St. James he married Miss Susan Baldwin
Stuart, a daughter of Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, of Staunton,
Va. The joy and success of his future ministry were
doubtless increased by her earnest interest and loving sympathy
in his work.

In 1878 he became rector of Trinity church, Parkersburg,
W. Va.

The Diocese of West Virginia had but recently been
organized, and Parkersburg was the Bishop's place of residence.
Active, earnest work in the centre of the new Diocese
was very important, and no mistake was made when Dr.
Peterkin's assistant was called to do this work. During the
nine years of his rectorship of Trinity church a new stone
church was built and consecrated. A Parish house was
built, a chapel was built on the southern edge of the Parish,
and the Episcopal residence was designed and completed
under the superintendence of the Vestry of his church.

In 1887 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take charge of
Christ church—the mother church of all that section of
country. Under his rectorship the church was rebuilt, and
the Constitution of the ancient corporation adapted to modern
needs. The membership of the church increased, and
the Sunday school was doubled.

When Bishop Randolph was elected Assistant Bishop of
Virginia, Mr. Gibson received a number of votes for that
office. When Bishop Newton was elected he was again voted
for. After the death of Bishop Newton he was elected
Bishop Coadjutor of Virginia on June 30, 1897. He was
consecrated on November 3d of the same year in Holy Trinity
Church, Richmond, Va. His consecrators were Bishops
Whittle, Peterkin and Randolph. He was presented by
Bishops Peterkin and Vincent. The sermon was preached
by Bishop H. M. Thompson. Bishop Gibson entered upon
his new duties with his accustomed earnestness and zeal.
Owing to the age and infirmities of Bishop Whittle, most of
the work of the Diocese devolved upon him. Upon the death
of the beloved and revered Bishop Whittle, June 18, 1902,
he became the sixth Bishop of Virginia, and is now zealously
leading his Diocese in its great missionary work from the
mountains to the sea.

Rt. Rev. J. B. Newton, D. D.,

Assistant Bishop of Virginia 1894-1897.